Effects of Electrical Stimulation of the Calf Muscles on Jumping Performance

Nagaoka Daichi, Ogiso Kazuyuki, Takenaka Mutsumi, Tokui Masato

2014

Abstract

In this study, to investigate the effects of tendinous tissue on jumping performance, we induced lengthening and shortening of the Achilles tendon by forcibly contracting the calf muscles by electrical stimulation. Fifteen healthy men participated in this study. Subjects performed 10 consecutive two-legged jumps at maximum effort (100% jump) and at 50% of the maximal jump height (50% jump). Jump height, ground contact, and flight time were measured. Both normal and electrically stimulated jumps were performed. An electrical stimulus was applied over the calf muscle during the jump at 20 Hz (ES20) or 60 Hz (ES60). Electrical stimulation intensity was set to 20% of the maximum ankle plantar-flexion torque. Jumping movements were filmed. The subjects were questioned about their jump performance and about the extent and location of muscle soreness each day for 6 days after the experiment. Jump height was significantly lower in the 100% jump with ES60 than in the 100% normal jump. Electrical stimulation had no effect on stability of the jump. The results of the self-evaluations were as follows: jump performance was rated significantly lower for 60ES than for 20ES in both the 100% and 50% jumps; force required was rated as high at 20 Hz and almost the same at 60 Hz compared with the normal jump; whereas ease of control was rated almost the same at 20 Hz but lower at 60 Hz compared with the normal jump. Significant differences were observed only in hip flexion in the 50% jump and in ankle plantar-flexion in both the 100% and 50% jumps between the normal and ES60 jumps. After the experiment, all subjects reported severe muscle soreness at the myotendinous junction of the gastrocnemius muscle. However, it gradually decreased day by day.

References

  1. Fukunaga, T., Kubo, K., Kawakami, Y., Fukashiro, S., Kanehisa, H., Maganaris, C.N., 2001. In vivo behaviour of human muscle tendon during walking. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B 268: 229-233.
  2. Garrett, W.E., Jr., 1990. Muscle strain injuries: clinical and basic aspects. Med Sci Sports Exerc 22: 436-443.
  3. Okuwaki, T., 2009. Muscle strains of top-level athletes in Japan. J Japan Soc Clin Sports Med 17: 497-505.
  4. Tidball, J.G., Salem, G., Zernicke, R., 1993, Site and mechanical conditions for failure of skeletal muscle in experimental strain injuries. J Appl Physiol 74: 1280- 1286.
  5. Zuurbier, C.J., Everard, A.J., van der Wees. P., Huijing, P.A., 1994. Length-force characteristics of the aponeurosis in the passive and active muscle condition and in the isolated condition. J Biomech 27: 445-453.
Download


Paper Citation


in Harvard Style

Daichi N., Kazuyuki O., Mutsumi T. and Masato T. (2014). Effects of Electrical Stimulation of the Calf Muscles on Jumping Performance . In - icSPORTS, ISBN , pages 0-0


in Bibtex Style

@conference{icsports14,
author={Nagaoka Daichi and Ogiso Kazuyuki and Takenaka Mutsumi and Tokui Masato},
title={Effects of Electrical Stimulation of the Calf Muscles on Jumping Performance},
booktitle={ - icSPORTS,},
year={2014},
pages={},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={},
isbn={},
}


in EndNote Style

TY - CONF
JO - - icSPORTS,
TI - Effects of Electrical Stimulation of the Calf Muscles on Jumping Performance
SN -
AU - Daichi N.
AU - Kazuyuki O.
AU - Mutsumi T.
AU - Masato T.
PY - 2014
SP - 0
EP - 0
DO -