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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Aging
Sec. Musculoskeletal Aging
Volume 5 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fragi.2024.1455404
This article is part of the Research Topic Molecular and Cellular Changes in Skeletal Muscle, Cartilage, Bone and Tendon During Aging View all articles

Age and sex-related differences in elastic properties of the gastrocnemius muscle-tendon unit: an observational prospective study

Provisionally accepted
Zhi Jie Zhang Zhi Jie Zhang 1Wenjing Wang Wenjing Wang 2Feng Li Feng Li 1*Jiayi Guo Jiayi Guo 1*
  • 1 Luoyang Orthopedic Hospital of Henan Province, Orthopedic Hospital of Henan Province, Luoyang, China
  • 2 Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Introduction: Changes in the mechanical properties of the gastrocnemius muscle-tendon unit can lead to abnormal biomechanics of lower limbs, which is a risk factor for the development of many diseases. However, fewer studies have explored physiological changes in the gastrocnemius muscletendon unit stiffness. This study aimed to investigate the age-and sex-related differences in the gastrocnemius muscle-tendon unit stiffness. Methods: The study included 20 older women, 20 young women, and 20 older men. Shear wave elastography (SWE) was used to measure the stiffness of the medial gastrocnemius (MG), lateral gastrocnemius (LG), and Achilles tendon (AT) in all subjects in relaxed, neutral, and standing positions. Results: The results showed no significant differences in the MG, LG, and AT stiffness between the dominant and non-dominant sides (p>0.05). The MG, LG, and AT stiffness changed with positions (p<0.05). The LG stiffness in older women was lower than in older men and young women in any position (p<0.05). The MG stiffness in older men was greater than that in older women in any position, and age-related changes were found only in the relaxed and standing positions (p<0.05). The AT stiffness was higher in older men only in the relaxed position (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in AT stiffness between older and younger women at any position (p>0.05). Discussion: These results suggest that the bilateral gastrocnemius muscle-tendon unit stiffnesses were similar regardless of sex, age, and position. The stiffness of the gastrocnemius in women decreased with age. However, the effect of aging on AT stiffness was slight. Men have greater gastrocnemius stiffness in older adults.

    Keywords: gastrocnemius, Achilles Tendon, Elasticity Imaging Techniques, Sex, Aging

    Received: 26 Jun 2024; Accepted: 29 Oct 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Zhang, Wang, Li and Guo. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Feng Li, Luoyang Orthopedic Hospital of Henan Province, Orthopedic Hospital of Henan Province, Luoyang, China
    Jiayi Guo, Luoyang Orthopedic Hospital of Henan Province, Orthopedic Hospital of Henan Province, Luoyang, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.