Muscle architecture and shape changes in the gastrocnemii of active younger and older adults

Nicole Y Kelp; Anna Gore; Christofer J Clemente; Kylie Tucker; François Hug; Taylor J.M Dick

doi:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2021.110823

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Muscle architecture and shape changes in the gastrocnemii of active younger and older adults

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Muscle architecture and shape changes in the gastrocnemii of active younger and older adults

Nicole Y Kelp, Anna Gore, Christofer J Clemente, Kylie Tucker, François Hug and Taylor J.M Dick

Journal of Biomechanics, Vol.129, pp.1-7

2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2021.110823

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Abstract

aging

B-mode ultrasound

gearing

pennation angle

skeletal muscle

When muscles contract and change length, they also bulge in thickness and/or width. These shape changes extend the functional range of skeletal muscle by allowing individual muscle fibres to shorten at different velocities than the whole muscle. Age-related differences in muscle architecture and tissue properties influence how older muscles change shape and architecture during contractions, yet this remains unexplored in active older adults. The aim of this study was to quantify and compare in vivo muscle architecture and shape changes in the medial (MG) and lateral (LG) gastrocnemii of active younger and older adults during isometric plantarflexion contractions. Fifteen younger (21±2y) and 15 older (70±3y) participants performed contractions at 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). B-mode ultrasound was used to measure fascicle length, pennation angle and muscle thickness in MG and LG. We found no influence of age on changes in normalized fascicle length and thickness, or absolute change in pennation angle during contractions. With increasing contraction level, MG and LG fascicle shortening (P<0.001) and rotation (P<0.001) increased. However, the change in muscle thickness increased at higher contraction levels in LG, and not MG. Similarly, increased changes in pennation angle were associated with increased muscle thickness in LG, but not MG at 80% and 100% MVC. These results suggest that (1) gastrocnemii shape changes are similar in active older and younger adults at matched levels of effort, and (2) the relationship between pennation angle and muscle thickness can differ between synergistics (LG and MG) and across contraction levels.

Details

Title: Muscle architecture and shape changes in the gastrocnemii of active younger and older adults
Authors: Nicole Y Kelp (Author) - University of Queensland
Anna Gore (Author) - University of Queensland
Christofer J Clemente (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Kylie Tucker (Author) - University of Queensland
François Hug (Author) - University of Queensland
Taylor J.M Dick (Author) - University of Queensland
Publication details: Journal of Biomechanics, Vol.129, pp.1-7
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2021.110823
ISSN: 1873-2380
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; School of Science and Engineering - Legacy
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99583908702621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Biophysics; Engineering, Biomedical

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