Stretch and activation of the human biarticular hamstrings across a range of running speeds

Purpose The human biarticular hamstrings [semimembranosus (SM), semitendinosus (ST) and biceps femoris long head (BF LH )] have an important role in running. This study determined how hamstrings neuro-mechanical behaviour changed with faster running, and whether differences existed between SM, ST an...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:European journal of applied physiology 2013-11, Vol.113 (11), p.2813-2828
Main Authors: Schache, Anthony G., Dorn, Tim W., Wrigley, Tim V., Brown, Nicholas A. T., Pandy, Marcus G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Biomechanical Phenomena
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biomedicine
Female
Human Physiology
Humans
Kinematics
Knee
Knee - physiology
Male
Muscle Contraction
Muscle, Skeletal - physiology
Occupational Medicine/Industrial Medicine
Original Article
Physiology
Running - physiology
Sports Medicine
Tendons - physiology
Velocity
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Purpose The human biarticular hamstrings [semimembranosus (SM), semitendinosus (ST) and biceps femoris long head (BF LH )] have an important role in running. This study determined how hamstrings neuro-mechanical behaviour changed with faster running, and whether differences existed between SM, ST and BF LH . Methods Whole-body kinematics and hamstrings electromyographic (EMG) activity were measured from seven participants running at four discrete speeds (range: 3.4 ± 0.1 to 9.0 ± 0.7 m/s). Kinematic data were combined with a three-dimensional musculoskeletal model to calculate muscle–tendon unit (MTU) stretch and velocity. Activation duration and magnitude were determined from EMG data. Results With faster running, MTU stretch and velocity patterns remained similar, but maxima and minima significantly increased. The hamstrings were activated from foot-strike until terminal stance or early swing, and then again from mid-swing until foot-strike. Activation duration was similar with faster running, whereas activation magnitude significantly increased. Hamstrings activation almost always ended before minimum MTU stretch, and it always started before maximum MTU stretch. Comparing the hamstrings, maximum MTU stretch was largest for BF LH and smallest for ST irrespective of running speed, while the opposite was true for peak-to-peak MTU stretch. Furthermore, peak MTU shortening velocity was largest for ST and smallest for BF LH at all running speeds. Finally, for the two fastest running speeds, the amount of MTU stretch that occurred during terminal swing after activation had started was less for BF LH compared to SM and ST. Conclusion Differences were evident in biarticular hamstrings neuro-mechanical behaviour during running. Such findings have implications for hamstrings function and injury.
ISSN:1439-6319
1439-6327
DOI:10.1007/s00421-013-2713-9