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The inclusion of women canoe in the Olympic Games reflects the growth and development that women have ahead of them in this modality. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore sex and performance level differences in muscle contractile properties through Tensiomyography (TMG), range of motion (ROM), strength, and canoe-specific functional electromechanical dynamometry (FEMD) performance and establish performance differences between international medalists and non-medalists. Twelve male and nine female canoeists from the Spanish and Portuguese national canoe teams were assessed through TMG, ROM, strength, and canoe-specific isometric and incremental FEMD tests. Few sex and performance level differences were found in TMG and ROM; however, significant sex differences were found in the strength and FEMD tests. Male canoeists had a greater Fmax in Leg Press, Pm and Pmax in canoe position cable row, 1RM bench press and bench pull, Fm and Fpeak canoe-specific isometric FEMD test and number of strokes, and Fpeak and Pmax on the incremental FEMD test than females. International medalists showed a lower time until reaching Vmax and Pmax in Leg Press on both sides and a greater number of strokes and Fpeak in the maximal incremental FEMD test than non-medalists. This study reinforces the utility of the use of TMG and FEMD for assessing and monitoring world-class athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the changes in neuromuscular contractile properties in elite cyclists associated to the peripheral fatigue produced in a maximal incremental test in cycle ergometer. Methods: Forty-eight volunteers' well-trained male cyclists were evaluated during the competition season within a recovery microcycle. Tensiomyography was used before and after performing an incremental test until exhaustion in cycle ergometer to measure the radial muscle belly displacement of the vastus lateralis (VL), rectus femoris (RF), and biceps femoris (BF) on the dominant leg. Maximum radial muscle belly displacement (Dm), contraction time (Tc), delay time (Td), sustain time (Ts), and radial displacement velocity (Vrd) were measured. Mixed-design factorial analysis of variance was used to detect changes in the mechanical and neuromuscular characteristics after a maximal incremental exercise test. Results: The results show in the evaluated muscles a moderate-large decrease (p < .01, η2 = 0.06-0.51) in Tc, Td, Dm, Ts, and Vrd. This decrease occurs more sharply in the BF than in RF or VL. Conclusion: An incremental effort until exhaustion produces peripheral fatigue associated with a decrease in Dm, Tc, Td, Ts, and Vrd, being more pronounced in biceps femoris than in vastus lateralis and rectus femoris. Coaches can use these changes found in the contractile properties as a reference to detect the muscle fatigue degree that certain training models pose for the cyclist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the acute effect of an 8-week specific hamstring flexibility training on junior canoeist during the competition season. Sixteen canoeists participated, divided into 3 groups: 5 in experimental group 1 (EG1), 5 in experimental group 2 (EG2), and 6 in a control group. The EG1 underwent a supervised program consisted by simple static stretching, dynamic static stretching, and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF), whereas the EG2 performed a program without PNF and no supervision. Two measurements were performed to analyze the effect on the knee joint range of motion (ROM) and trunk flexion; neuromuscular and contractile properties in biceps femoris (BF) and semitendinosus (ST) muscles; and maximum power and average speed in lower limbs. A mixed-design factorial analysis of variance (p ≤ 0.05) was performed and the effect size was calculated. The results show significant improvements (p ≤ 0.05) in both legs for knee joint ROM and trunk flexion in EG1 (8.9 and 25.5%; 5.7 and 20.9% in the right and left leg, respectively) and EG2 (6.7 and 22%; 3.9 and 24.4%), only EG1 improved muscular stiffness in BF (27.4% left leg) and ST (20.5 and 24.3%), and lateral symmetry in BF (49%) without decreasing average speed in lower limbs. All improvements have a large effect size. In conclusion, it is suggested that a supervised hamstring flexibility program performed concurrently during a canoeist competition season can produce an increase in the knee joint ROM and trunk flexion, without negative repercussions in contractile and neuromuscular capacities, maximum power, and average velocity in lower limbs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim was to determine the predictive capacity of neuromuscular parameters on physiological predictors of performance related to pedaling power. The sample comprised fifty elite cyclists. On the same day, they were given a neuromuscular evaluation with tensiomyography (TMG) and then performed an effort test on a cycle ergometer until exhaustion. The TMG recorded the maximum radial muscle belly displacement, contraction time, delay time, derivative normalized response speed, and lateral symmetry. Peak power output (Wpeak · kg - 1), effort time, maximum lactate concentration, power in the first lactate threshold, and power in the second lactate threshold were recorded in the effort test. Linear regression analysis was used to determine the explanatory capacity of neuromuscular parameters on potential cycling performance indicators. A higher Wpeak · kg - 1 during a maximal incremental test on the cycle ergometer can be predicted moderately (R² = 0.683; R²a = 0.615; R = 0.826; Std. Error = 0.26017; p < 0.001) by a longer rectus femoris contraction time and a greater radial muscle belly displacement of the vastus lateralis and vastus medialis as well as a slower normalized response speed of the biceps femoris. In conclusion, neuromuscular parameters can partially explain performance in a specific cycling test until exhaustion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to determine the mechanical and neuromuscular profile of knee extensor and flexor muscles in professional soccer players at the start of the pre-season, and to calculate percentages for symmetry, as well as examine differences according to the player's positional role. The vastus medialis (VM), vastus lateralis (VL), rectus femoris (RF) and biceps femoris (BF) of 16 professional soccer players were evaluated by means of tensiomyography (TMG) on the first day of the pre-season. A paired-samples t test (p < .05) was used to compare the dominant and non-dominant lower limb. One-way ANOVA was applied, with the positional role as an independent factor. No differences were observed between the dominant and non-dominant leg. The highest degree of symmetry corresponded to the VM (92.5 ± 2.7%), and the lowest to the BF (80.7 ± 10.9%). The positional role was associated with significant differences in some of the variables for the BF, RF and VM, although only the half-relaxation time in the BF and the time to sustain force in the VM differed across all the playing positions considered. TMG was shown to be a useful way of evaluating the neuromuscular characteristics of soccer players at the start of the pre-season, and of establishing baseline values for individual players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article cites a research study which establishes reference values of tensiomyography (TMG) in professional road cyclists. The study also analyzes how the planned periods of the Season produce differences in the muscles. It is concluded that time contraction (TC) values during the Season show marked differences between the knee extensors and the knee flexor.

The aim of this study is to determine the reliability and generalizability of the data structure from the assessment, through tensiomyography (TMG), the parameters of muscle time contraction (TC) and maximum radial displacement of the muscle belly (DM) of the vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, rectus femoris and biceps femoris muscles of 10 professional road cyclists. TMG measurements took place during the preparatory period and the competitive period. An analysis of variance components by least-squares procedure and maximum likelihood (<.0001), and an analysis of generalizability was performed. The results indicate that the values of error of the variance components analysis by least-squares procedure and maximum likelihood are identical for TC and DM variables, which enables us to consider the sample as normal, linear and homoscedastic. The precision model of the TC variable shows a suitable level of reliability and generalizability (e² = .89 Φ = .83). The model of DM variable shows a suitable level of reliability and a generalizability close to the proper one (e² = .826 Φ = .785). The optimization of the design with the variable TC achieved excellent levels of reliability e² = .94) and generalizability (Φ = .90), as well as the variable DM (e² = .92 Φ = .90). The importance of this work lies in the use of TMG as a primary intervention technique in the prevention of muscle injuries through the calculation of symmetries and their compensation with guaranteed reliability, accuracy and validity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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