Table 6.
Muscle–tendon unit (MTU) length change parameters of the knee extensors (mean ± s.d.). Values in italics are significant p-values (<0.05).
| MTU | parameter | young | adult | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rectus femoris | stretching (mm) | 17.7 ± 8.4 | 15.8 ± 7.5 | 0.494 |
| stretching time (ms) | 110.0 ± 22.2 | 85.3 ± 24.5 | 0.063 | |
| shortening (mm) | 14.9 ± 6.7a | 19.2 ± 3.8 | 0.028 | |
| shortening time (ms) | 79.4 ± 18.0 | 91.5 ± 19.2 | 0.104 | |
| maximal shortening velocity (mm ms−1) | 0.27 ± 0.11a | 0.33 ± 0.06 | 0.037 | |
| vastus lateralis | shortening (mm) | 44.2 ± 4.9 | 45.3 ± 4.8 | 0.484 |
| shortening time (ms) | 192.4 ± 24.7 | 176.8 ± 24.1 | 0.062 | |
| maximal shortening velocity (mm ms−1) | 0.48 ± 0.07 | 0.49 ± 0.06 | 0.450 | |
| vastus medials | shortening (mm) | 43.7 ± 5.0 | 44.8 ± 4.9 | 0.509 |
| shortening time (ms) | 192.4 ± 24.7 | 176.8 ± 24.1 | 0.062 | |
| maximal shortening velocity (mm ms−1) | 0.46 ± 0.07 | 0.48 ± 0.06 | 0.461 | |
| vastus intermedius | shortening (mm) | 45.7 ± 5.1 | 46.7 ± 5.4 | 0.581 |
| shortening time (ms) | 192.4 ± 24.7 | 176.8 ± 24.1 | 0.062 | |
| maximal shortening velocity (mm ms−1) | 0.48 ± 0.07 | 0.50 ± 0.07 | 0.506 |
aDifferent from adult (p < 0.05).