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The analysis of the impact of a 5-min massage session on the gastrocnemius contractile and passive mechanical properties in young adults - a randomized controlled trial. The effect of massage therapy on the muscle properties is unclear. New technologies make investigation more in-depth and reliable. This study examined the effects of a 5-min massage session on the muscle stiffness and tone reduction in healthy young adults. Participants aged between 19 and 24 were randomly assigned to an intervention group (IG) (n = 40) or a control group (CG) (n = 40). The IG participated in a 5-min massage session of the lateral and medial gastrocnemius muscle (LGCM and MGCM respectively). The muscle contractile properties were assessed by tensiomyography (TMG). It measured maximal displacement (Dm), delay time (Td) and contraction time (Tc). Oscillation frequency (F) and stiffness (S) were used to assess muscle passive mechanical properties. These measurements were collected by MytonPro. There were no differences between the groups in the pre-test measurements. The results of mixed-model ANOVA showed significant (p < 0.05) time × group interactions, with greater alteration in the IG compared to the CG in the LGCM for Dm (%diff = 22.5, ƞp2 = 0.41), Td (%diff = 3.63, ƞp2 = 0.02), Tc (%diff = 13.38, ƞp2 = 0.1), F (%diff = 5.55, ƞp2 = 0.07) and in the MGCM for Dm (%diff = −14.34, ƞp2 = 0.06), F (%diff = −7.53, ƞp2 = 0.12). No difference (p > 0.05) was noticed in other variables. A 5-min massage session impacts the contractile and passive mechanical properties of the LGCM and MGCM. The size and direction of changes may depend on the muscle type, its geometry as well as other factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the effects of a 4-week circuit strength training with blood flow restriction on Taekwondo athletes. Six male athletes (age 20.6 ± 1.85, height 184.3 ± 7.63 cm, training duration 7.5 ± 2.07 years) were assessed for explosive strength, muscle recruitment, and sport-specific skills. The regimen encompassed evaluations of lower limb power, Isokinetic strength, force via electronic kicks, and Tensiomyography (TMG) measurements pre-and post-training. Outcomes revealed enhanced jumping abilities, improved knee muscles, and superior kicking skills. There was a notable increase in muscle fibre recruitment and a shift towards type II muscle fibres. Medial thigh muscle displacement showed a positive correlation with jump duration, while lateral thigh muscles indicated a connection with kick numbers. The regimen notably improved explosive power, muscle fibre distribution, and reduced muscle contraction times. Yet, no significant changes in lower limb bilateral symmetry or the link between TMG parameters and athletic prowess were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive amounts of intense training, without adequate recovery time, can overload the musculoskeletal, immune, and metabolic systems, resulting in a potentially negative effects on later exercise performance. During the competitive period, the ability to recover after intense training and competition is an important factor of success in soccer. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of hamstring foam rolling on the knee muscle contractile properties in soccer players, after a sports-specific load. 20 male professional soccer players were included and contractile properties of the biceps femoris, rectus femoris, vastus medialis and vastus lateralis muscles were measured with tensiomyography, before and after a Yo-Yo interval test and after 5 × 45 s of hamstring foam rolling. Additionally, active and passive knee extensibility before and after the intervention were measured. A mixed linear model was performed to determine the differences between the mean values of the groups. The experimental group performed foam rolling, while the control was resting. Five repetitions of 45 s of hamstring foam rolling had no statistically significant effect (p > 0.05) on any of the measured muscles following the Yo-Yo interval test or foam rolling intervention. There were no statistically significant differences in delay time, contraction time and maximum muscle amplitude between groups. Active and passive knee extensibility did not differ between groups. It seems that foam rolling does not affect mechanical properties of the knee muscles or hamstring extensibility in soccer players, after a sports-specific load. • Foam rolling does not affect muscle contractility. • A researchers' dilemma is what to do about the clinical practices that are widely accepted without scientific basis. • Foam rolling does not affect hamstring extensibility in soccer players, after a sports-specific load. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study is a comparison of skeletal muscle characteristics in Slovenian gymnasts assessed by TMG and values of contraction properties of muscles, lateral symmetries, and the effect of aging on selected contraction properties of skeletal muscles in men's artistic gymnastics (MAG); women's artistic gymnastics (WAG) and rhythmic gymnastics (RG). This study is the first larger study to use the TMG method and in which top athletes from artistic and rhythmic gymnastics participated. Materials and Methods: A survey of 81 athletes from different disciplines was conducted as follows: MAG (n = 26), WAG (n = 28), and RG (n = 27). The athletes' average age was 15.41 ± 5.03 years. In this study, the contraction times of ten skeletal muscles for Slovenian gymnasts on the right and left sides of the body were compared: M. Biceps brachii, M. Triceps brachii, M. Biceps femoris, M. Erector spinae, M. Gastrocnemius lateralis, M. Gastrocnemius medialis, M. Rectus femoris, M. Tibialis anteriror, M Vastus lateralis, M. Vastus medialis. Results: In MAG, a statistically significant correlation between age and contraction time was found for m. VL and m. VM. In WAG, was found for m. GM. In RG was found for m. TA and m VL for all at p < 0.01. Conclusions: A comparison between the left and the right side body shows a slight asymmetry. With TMG, we can assess the discipline's demands and help improve gymnasts' performances along with the safety of training. Tensiomyography has a high predictive ability to discriminate between the left and right sides of the body functionally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cold exposures impair neuromuscular function.1 Tensiomyography (TMG) non-invasively assesses muscle contractile properties with electrical stimulation.2 Until present, there are no reports to clarify icing effects on muscle contractile properties with TMG. Objective: To investigate the effects of icing on muscle temperature and contractile properties. Methods: Eight healthy males (age: 22.9 ± 2.2 years) participated in this study. Each participant completed two conditions (icing and control) each for 15 minutes on separate days in a random order. Icing was applied on the right gastrocnemius muscles. Muscle temperature was measured at gastrocnemius lateralis. Muscle contractile properties of the gastrocnemius medialis were measured using Tensiomyography (TMG--100). The stimulation intensity was increased gradually to 20 mA, reaching a plateau in the twitch response curve. TMG parameters, including maximal radial displacement (Dm), delay time (Td), contraction time (Tc), and velocity of contraction (Vc), were then measured from the maximal twitch response. Two-way repeated-measures ANOVA was performed, and the Bonferroni test was used for post-hoc comparisons. Results: In the icing condition, muscle temperature were significantly decreased (Pre: 34.2 ± 0.9 °C; Post: 28.6 ± 2.7 °C, p < 0.001). Neuromuscular properties were shown with Td (Pre: 20.2 ± 1.1 ms; Post: 23.9 ± 1.4 ms, p < 0.001), Tc (Pre: 20.9 ± 2.1 ms; Post: 23.2 ± 2.6 ms, p = 0.021) and Vc (Pre: 0.087 ± 0.024 mm/ms; Post: 0.076 ± 0.021 mm/ms, p < 0.001) were significantly impaired after icing. However, no significant changes with Dm in icing condition (p = 0.206) and muscle temperature and TMG parameters in control condition (p = 0.092-0.994). Conclusion: Icing temporally impairs muscle contractile properties, but the maximal radial displacement remains unchanged. The present results suggest that icing may negatively affect neuromuscular properties without altering mechanical properties with the muscle contraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to compare the effects of two different training protocols, which differ in the duration of the eccentric phase, on the one-repetition maximum (1 RM), thickness and contractile properties of elbow flexors. Twenty untrained college students were randomly divided into two experimental groups, based on the training tempo: FEG (Faster Eccentric Group: 1/0/1/0) and SEG (Slower Eccentric Group: 4/0/1/0). Training intervention was a biceps bending exercise, conducted twice a week for 7 weeks. The intensity (60-70% RM), sets (3-4) and rest intervals (120 s) were held constant, while repetitions were performed until it was not possible to maintain a set duration. In the initial and final measurements, 1RM, muscle thickness and tensiomyography parameters - contraction time (Tc) and radial deformation (Dm) - were evaluated. An ANCOVA model (using baseline outcomes as covariates) was applied to determine between-group differences at post-test, while Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient was used to investigate the relationship between absolute changes in muscle thickness and Dm. Muscle strength increase was greater for SEG than for FEG (6.0 ± 1.76 vs. 3.30 ± 2.26 kg, p < 0.01). In both groups muscle thickness increased equally (FEG: 3.24 ± 2.01 vs. SEG: 3.57 ± 1.17 mm, p < 0.01), while an overall reduction in Dm was observed (FEG: 1.99 ± 1.20 vs. SEG: 2.26 ± 1.03 mm, p < 0.01). Values of Tc remained unchanged. A significant negative relationship was observed between changes in muscle thickness and Dm (r = -0.763, Adj.R² = 0.560, p < 0.01). These results indicate that the duration of the eccentric phase has no effect on muscle hypertrophy in untrained subjects, but that slower eccentric movement significantly increases 1 RM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Informatica (03505596) is the property of Slovene Society Informatika and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Kronos is the property of Revista Kronos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of this study was to examine changes in muscle contractile properties across a microcycle of training in professional soccer players during the in-season period. Nineteen professional soccer players were assessed with tensiomyography (TMG) on the biceps femoris and rectus femoris before and after 5 training sessions of an in-season microcycle. Training load was quantified during each training session. Significant differences were observed in training load variables across different training sessions, with the last training session prior to match day showing the lowest values for all training load variables. Significant pre- to postsession increases were observed in muscle stiffness of the rectus femoris and biceps femoris during the first four training sessions (effect size range, 0.5 to 0.9). However, no significant differences were observed in muscle contraction time and contraction velocity from pre- to post-session. In addition, repeated measures correlation analysis revealed significant relationships between absolute change in muscle stiffness of the rectus femoris and training duration, high-speed distance covered during training, and training average distance. The current study shows that players are physically taxed on their muscular stiffness by the training load. Post-session muscular stiffness assessment should be recommended to determine neuromuscular status and readiness in professional soccer players during the competitive season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cuadernos de Psicología del Deporte is the property of Cuadernos de Psicologia del Deporte and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Facta Universitatis: Series Physical Education & Sport is the property of Facta Universitatis, Series Physical Education & Sport and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Kronos is the property of Revista Kronos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Physiotherapists and other practitioners commonly prescribe foam rolling as an intervention, but the mechanistic effects of this intervention are not known. Purpose: The aim of this investigation was to establish if a single bout of foam rolling affects flexibility, skeletal muscle contractility and reflected temperature. Methods: Twelve adolescent male squash players were evaluated on two separate occasions (treatment and control visits) and were tested on both legs for flexibility of the hip flexors and quadriceps, muscle contractility (as measured by tensiomyography) and temperature of the quadriceps (assessed via thermography) at repeated time points pre- and post a 60s rolling intervention (pre-, immediately post, 5, 10, 15, and 30 minutes post). They rolled one leg on the treatment visit and did not perform rolling on the control visit. Results: The main outcome measure was the flexibility of hip flexor and quadriceps at repeated time points up to 30 minutes post intervention. The average foam rolling force was 68% of subject's body weight. This force affected the combination of hip and quadriceps flexibility (p = 0.03; 2.4 degrees total increase with foam rolling) but not each muscle independently (p = 0.05 - 0.98) following a single 60s bout. Muscle contractility is not affected (p = 0.09 - 0.93) and temperature is not increased by foam rolling across time points (p = 0.19). Conclusions: A single sixty-second bout of rolling applied to the quadriceps induces a small significant change in flexibility that is of little practical relevance, while muscle contractility and temperature remain unchanged. Investigation of larger doses of rolling is merited in athletic populations to justify current practice. Level of Evidence: 2 c [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on a study that deals with muscle stiffness, the mechanic and contractile properties of the muscles using tensiomyography with high level beach volleyball players. The study demonstrate the usefulness of this method to evaluate the muscles in charge of the knee flexion and extension. It focuses on a group of 24 beach volleyball players who took part in the Nestea European Championship Tour - Spanish Master held in the Gran Canaria in May 2009.

Copyright of Revista Kronos is the property of Revista Kronos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Cuadernos de Psicología del Deporte is the property of Cuadernos de Psicologia del Deporte and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Kinesiologia Slovenica is the property of Faculty of Sport and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Kronos is the property of Revista Kronos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Japanese Journal of Physical Fitness & Sports Medicine / Tairyoku kagak is the property of Japanese Society of Physical Fitness & Sports Medicine and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)