The Influence of Hip and Knee Joint Angles on Quadriceps Muscle-Tendon Unit Properties during Maximal Voluntary Isometric Contraction

Alessandra Martins Melo de Sousa, Jonathan Galvão Tenório Cavalcante, Martim Bottaro, Denis César Leite Vieira, Nicolas Babault, Jeam Marcel Geremia, Patrick Corrigan, Karin Grävare Silbernagel, João Luiz Quaglioti Durigan and Rita de Cássia Marqueti ()
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Alessandra Martins Melo de Sousa: Laboratory of Muscle and Tendon Plasticity, Graduate Program of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília 72220275, Brazil
Jonathan Galvão Tenório Cavalcante: Laboratory of Muscle and Tendon Plasticity, College of Physical Education, University of Brasília, Brasília 70910900, Brazil
Martim Bottaro: College of Physical Education, University of Brasília, Brasília 70910900, Brazil
Denis César Leite Vieira: College of Physical Education, University of Brasília, Brasília 70910900, Brazil
Nicolas Babault: Centre d’Expertise de la Performance, INSERM U1093 CAPS, Sports Science Faculty, University of Burgundy, 21078 Dijon, France
Jeam Marcel Geremia: Exercise Research Laboratory, School of Physical Education, Physical Therapy, and Dance, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90690200, Brazil
Patrick Corrigan: Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA
Karin Grävare Silbernagel: Department of Physical Therapy, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19713, USA
João Luiz Quaglioti Durigan: Laboratory of Muscle and Tendon Plasticity, Graduate Program of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília 72220275, Brazil
Rita de Cássia Marqueti: Laboratory of Molecular Analysis, Graduate Program of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília 72220275, Brazil

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 5, 1-18

Abstract: Determining how the quadriceps femoris musculotendinous unit functions, according to hip and knee joint angles, may help with clinical decisions when prescribing knee extension exercises. We aimed to determine the effect of hip and knee joint angles on structure and neuromuscular functioning of all constituents of the quadriceps femoris and patellar tendon properties. Twenty young males were evaluated in four positions: seated and supine in both 20° and 60° of knee flexion (SIT20, SIT60, SUP20, and SUP60). Peak knee extension torque was determined during maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC). Ultrasound imaging was used at rest and during MVIC to characterize quadriceps femoris muscle and tendon aponeurosis complex stiffness. We found that peak torque and neuromuscular efficiency were higher for SUP60 and SIT60 compared to SUP20 and SIT20 position. We found higher fascicle length and lower pennation angle in positions with the knee flexed at 60°. The tendon aponeurosis complex stiffness, tendon force, stiffness, stress, and Young’s modulus seemed greater in more elongated positions (60°) than in shortened positions (20°). In conclusion, clinicians should consider positioning at 60° of knee flexion rather than 20°, regardless if seated or supine, during rehabilitation to load the musculotendinous unit enough to stimulate a cellular response.

Keywords: moment-angle relationship; muscle length; mechanical properties (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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