Reduced Achilles Tendon Stiffness Disrupts Calf Muscle Neuromechanics in Elderly Gait

Overview

Journal Gerontology

Specialty Geriatrics

Date 2021 Jul 18

PMID 34274923

Citations 16

Authors

Rebecca L Krupenevich

Owen N Beck

Gregory S Sawicki

Jason R Franz

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Older adults walk slower and with a higher metabolic energy expenditure than younger adults. In this review, we explore the hypothesis that age-related declines in Achilles tendon stiffness increase the metabolic cost of walking due to less economical calf muscle contractions and increased proximal joint work. This viewpoint may motivate interventions to restore ankle muscle-tendon stiffness, improve walking mechanics, and reduce metabolic cost in older adults.

Citing Articles

Comparative study on muscle-tendon stiffness and balance impairment in postmenopausal women: a focus on osteosarcopenia and osteoporosis.

Yekta E, Torkaman G, Aghaghazvini L Aging Clin Exp Res. 2024; 36(1):232.

PMID: 39625551 PMC: 11614992. DOI: 10.1007/s40520-024-02888-3.

Reduced Achilles tendon stiffness in aging associates with higher metabolic cost of walking.

Gray A, Krupenevich R, Batsis J, Sawicki G, Franz J J Appl Physiol (1985). 2024; 137(6):1541-1548.

PMID: 39508895 PMC: 11687843. DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00377.2024.

Predictive ability of Achilles tendon elastography for frailty in older adults.

Ceker E, Fadiloglu A, Cataltepe E, Sendur H, Allahverdiyeva S, Varan H Eur Geriatr Med. 2024; 15(5):1461-1468.

PMID: 39090315 PMC: 11615014. DOI: 10.1007/s41999-024-01023-9.

The effects of plantarflexor weakness and reduced tendon stiffness with aging on gait stability.

Smith R, Shelton A, Sawicki G, Franz J PLoS One. 2024; 19(4):e0302021.

PMID: 38625839 PMC: 11020829. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302021.

Habitually wearing high heels may improve user walking economy in any footwear.

Beck O, Schroeder J, Sawicki G J Appl Physiol (1985). 2024; 136(3):567-572.

PMID: 38299222 PMC: 11212819. DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00016.2024.

References

Holt N, Danos N, Roberts T, Azizi E . Stuck in gear: age-related loss of variable gearing in skeletal muscle. J Exp Biol. 2016; 219(Pt 7):998-1003. PMC: 4852693. DOI: 10.1242/jeb.133009. View

Stenroth L, Cronin N, Peltonen J, Korhonen M, Sipila S, Finni T . Triceps surae muscle-tendon properties in older endurance- and sprint-trained athletes. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2015; 120(1):63-9. DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00511.2015. View

Danos N, Holt N, Sawicki G, Azizi E . Modeling age-related changes in muscle-tendon dynamics during cyclical contractions in the rat gastrocnemius. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2016; 121(4):1004-1012. PMC: 5142310. DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00396.2016. View

Clark W, Franz J . Triceps surae muscle-subtendon interaction differs between young and older adults. Connect Tissue Res. 2019; 61(1):104-113. PMC: 6872920. DOI: 10.1080/03008207.2019.1612384. View

Clark W, Franz J . Activation-Dependent Changes in Soleus Length-Tension Behavior Augment Ankle Joint Quasi-Stiffness. J Appl Biomech. 2019; 35(3):182-189. PMC: 6541500. DOI: 10.1123/jab.2018-0297. View

Zhang J, Fiers P, Witte K, Jackson R, Poggensee K, Atkeson C . Human-in-the-loop optimization of exoskeleton assistance during walking. Science. 2017; 356(6344):1280-1284. DOI: 10.1126/science.aal5054. View

Lindemann I, Coombes B, Tucker K, Hug F, Dick T . Age-related differences in gastrocnemii muscles and Achilles tendon mechanical properties in vivo. J Biomech. 2020; 112:110067. DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2020.110067. View

de Vlugt E, van Eesbeek S, Baines P, Hilte J, Meskers C, De Groot J . Short range stiffness elastic limit depends on joint velocity. J Biomech. 2011; 44(11):2106-12. DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2011.05.022. View

Mian O, Thom J, Ardigo L, Narici M, Minetti A . Metabolic cost, mechanical work, and efficiency during walking in young and older men. Acta Physiol (Oxf). 2006; 186(2):127-39. DOI: 10.1111/j.1748-1716.2006.01522.x. View

10.

Malcolm P, Galle S, Derave W, Clercq D . Bi-articular Knee-Ankle-Foot Exoskeleton Produces Higher Metabolic Cost Reduction than Weight-Matched Mono-articular Exoskeleton. Front Neurosci. 2018; 12:69. PMC: 5841020. DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00069. View

11.

Robertson B, Sawicki G . Exploiting elasticity: Modeling the influence of neural control on mechanics and energetics of ankle muscle-tendons during human hopping. J Theor Biol. 2014; 353:121-32. DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2014.03.010. View

12.

Lichtwark G, Wilson A . Is Achilles tendon compliance optimised for maximum muscle efficiency during locomotion?. J Biomech. 2006; 40(8):1768-75. DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2006.07.025. View

13.

Malatesta D, Simar D, Ben Saad H, Prefaut C, Caillaud C . Effect of an overground walking training on gait performance in healthy 65- to 80-year-olds. Exp Gerontol. 2010; 45(6):427-34. DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2010.03.009. View

14.

Jackson R, Collins S . An experimental comparison of the relative benefits of work and torque assistance in ankle exoskeletons. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2015; 119(5):541-57. DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.01133.2014. View

15.

Brierley E, Johnson M, James O, Turnbull D . Effects of physical activity and age on mitochondrial function. QJM. 1996; 89(4):251-8. DOI: 10.1093/qjmed/89.4.251. View

16.

Franz J, Thelen D . Depth-dependent variations in Achilles tendon deformations with age are associated with reduced plantarflexor performance during walking. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2015; 119(3):242-9. PMC: 4526706. DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00114.2015. View

17.

Ortega J, Beck O, Roby J, Turney A, Kram R . Running for exercise mitigates age-related deterioration of walking economy. PLoS One. 2014; 9(11):e113471. PMC: 4239061. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0113471. View

18.

Baudry S, Lecoeuvre G, Duchateau J . Age-related changes in the behavior of the muscle-tendon unit of the gastrocnemius medialis during upright stance. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2011; 112(2):296-304. DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00913.2011. View

19.

Franz J . The Age-Associated Reduction in Propulsive Power Generation in Walking. Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 2016; 44(4):129-36. PMC: 9382873. DOI: 10.1249/JES.0000000000000086. View

20.

DeVita P, Hortobagyi T . Age causes a redistribution of joint torques and powers during gait. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2000; 88(5):1804-11. DOI: 10.1152/jappl.2000.88.5.1804. View