<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Lower leg exercises are impacted by the anatomy of the triceps surae-Achilles tendon complex. Such exercises may utilize series elastic energy (SEE), temporarily stored within the Achilles tendon, to augment forces exerted by the triceps surae. While SEE's contribution to bipedal jumping and walking have been assessed, other lower leg exercises yet to receive similar scrutiny include seated calf presses done on flywheel-based hardware. Current subjects did two identical calf press workouts on a flywheel ergometer. The following three variables were obtained from workouts–the total work (TW) performed, net energy costs, and peak blood lactate concentration ([BLa−]). With multivariate regression, four variables correlated with each criterion measures’ variance–lower leg length (LLL) and cross-sectional area (CSA), as well as the lengths of the triceps surae (ML) and Achilles tendon (ATL). Our predictor variables correlated to significant amounts of TW and net energy cost, but not [BLa−] variance. Univariate matrices showed CSA was the best overall predictor for our criterion measures, while ML and ATL were generally weaker correlates. ATL did not have as great an impact as with other lower leg exercises; likely because the slow rate of ankle joint movement greatly limited SEE activity. The limited degree of foot support for ergometer repetitions was also a factor that likely weakened ATL's impact as a correlate. More research on anatomy's impact on this novel form of exercise is warranted.</abstract>

Lower leg exercises are impacted by the anatomy of the triceps surae-Achilles tendon complex. Such exercises may utilize series elastic energy (SEE), temporarily stored within the Achilles tendon, to augment forces exerted by the triceps surae. While SEE's contribution to bipedal jumping and walking have been assessed, other lower leg exercises yet to receive similar scrutiny include seated calf presses done on flywheel-based hardware. Current subjects did two identical calf press workouts on a flywheel ergometer. The following three variables were obtained from workouts–the total work (TW) performed, net energy costs, and peak blood lactate concentration ([BLa−]). With multivariate regression, four variables correlated with each criterion measures’ variance–lower leg length (LLL) and cross-sectional area (CSA), as well as the lengths of the triceps surae (ML) and Achilles tendon (ATL). Our predictor variables correlated to significant amounts of TW and net energy cost, but not [BLa−] variance. Univariate matrices showed CSA was the best overall predictor for our criterion measures, while ML and ATL were generally weaker correlates. ATL did not have as great an impact as with other lower leg exercises; likely because the slow rate of ankle joint movement greatly limited SEE activity. The limited degree of foot support for ergometer repetitions was also a factor that likely weakened ATL's impact as a correlate. More research on anatomy's impact on this novel form of exercise is warranted.

Lower Leg Anatomical Correlates to Performance and Metabolism from Flywheel-based Exercise

Department of Family & Community Medicine

Gravitational and Space Research

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Lower leg exercises are impacted by the anatomy of the triceps surae-Achilles tendon complex. Such exercises may utilize series elastic energy (SEE),...

Lower Leg Anatomical Correlates to Performance and Metabolism from Flywheel-based Exercise

Article Category: Research Article

Publicado en línea: 20 jul 2020

Páginas: 41 - 51

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/gsr-2017-0004

Palabras clave
Achilles Tendon Length, Series Elastic Element, Flywheel Ergometer, Triceps Surae, Potentiation

© 2017 Rachel A. Perry et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Lower Leg Anatomical Correlates to Performance and Metabolism from Flywheel-based Exercise

Article Category: Research Article

Publicado en línea: 20 jul 2020

Páginas: 41 - 51

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/gsr-2017-0004

Palabras claveAchilles Tendon Length, Series Elastic Element, Flywheel Ergometer, Triceps Surae, Potentiation

© 2017 Rachel A. Perry et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Palabras clave
Achilles Tendon Length, Series Elastic Element, Flywheel Ergometer, Triceps Surae, Potentiation