Relationship between elastic properties of tendon structures and performance in long distance runners

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between running performance (best official record in a 5000 m race) and elastic properties of tendon structures in knee extensors and plantar flexors among a large population of long distance runners.

Sixty-four highly trained male long distance runners participated in this study. Elongation of tendon structures in the knee extensors and plantar flexors was measured using ultrasonography while subjects performed ramp isometric contractions up to the voluntary maximum. The relationship between the estimated muscle force and tendon elongation was fit to a linear regression, the slope of which was defined as the stiffness of the tendon structures. Muscle and tendon thicknesses were also measured in the knee extensors and plantar flexors using ultrasonography.

The best official record in a 5000 m race was negatively correlated to the stiffness of the tendon structures in the knee extensors (r = -0.341, p < 0.01), whereas it was positively correlated to the stiffness of the tendon structures in the plantar flexors (r = 0.414, p < 0.001). In both the knee extensors and plantar flexors, the other measured variables of muscle and tendon structures did not correlate with the best official record in a 5000 m race.

These results suggested that better long distance runners had stiffer tendon structures in the knee extensors and more compliant ones in the plantar flexors. These results implied that tendon structures in knee extensors and plantar flexors adapted to endurance running training and contributed to running performance of long distance runners separately.