Rotllan C, Corbi F, Viscor G. Muscle Tone, Stiffness, and Elasticity in Elite Female Cyclists after Consecutive Short Competitions.
Transl Sports Med 2024;
2024:2434494. [PMID:
38654721 PMCID:
PMC11023733 DOI:
10.1155/2024/2434494]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Background
For professional road cyclists, most overload injuries affect the lower limbs. They are mostly represented by contractures or muscle shortening, characterised by a variation of muscular tone, stiffness, and elasticity. This real-life study aimed to assess specific mechanical parameters in top-class female cyclists who participated in 3 races a week. Hypothesis. Muscle tone, stiffness, and elasticity will be affected immediately after competition and at the end of the week due to accumulated fatigue.
Methods
Six professional cyclists were evaluated. This pilot study consisted of a controlled trial and three days of competition, with rest days between them. MyotonPRO was used to measure tone, stiffness, and elasticity in six leg muscles: vastus lateralis (VL), vastus medialis (VM), rectus femoris (RF), biceps femoris (BF), lateral gastrocnemius (LG), and medial gastrocnemius (MG). Daily basal and pre- and postrace measures were carried through to the 3 races in a week.
Results
The muscular tone of VL, VM, LG, and MG and the stiffness of VL, VM, RF, BF, LG, and MG decreased after races. VL and RF were mostly affected by (p=0.05) and (p=0.009), respectively. Basal elasticity improved over time until the last day.
Conclusions
Muscle tone and stiffness decreased after a very intense and exhausting cycling endurance competition. Basal elasticity improved immediately after the race and continued this trend until the end of the week. More research is needed on changes in mechanical properties in competition and risk prevention of injuries.
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