@inproceedings{AbelBoninAlbrachtetal.2010,
  author    = {Abel, Thomas and Bonin, Dominik and Albracht, Kirsten and Zeller, Sebastian and Br{\"u}ggemann, Gert-Peter and Burkett, Brendan and Str{\"u}der, Heiko K.},
  title     = {Kinematic profile of the elite handcyclist},
  series = {28th International Conference on Biomechanics in Sports, Marquette, Michigan, USA, July 19 - 23, 2010},
  booktitle = {28th International Conference on Biomechanics in Sports, Marquette, Michigan, USA, July 19 - 23, 2010},
  issn      = {1999-4168},
  pages     = {140 -- 141},
  year      = {2010},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{AggeloussisGiannakouAlbrachtetal.2010,
  author    = {Aggeloussis, Nickos and Giannakou, Erasmia and Albracht, Kirsten and Arampatzis, Adamantios},
  title     = {Reproducibility of fascicle length and pennation angle of gastrocnemius medialis in human gait in vivo},
  series = {Gait and Posture},
  volume    = {31},
  journal   = {Gait and Posture},
  number    = {1},
  publisher = {Elsevier},
  address   = {Amsterdam},
  issn      = {0966-6362},
  doi       = {10.1016/j.gaitpost.2009.08.249},
  pages     = {73 -- 77},
  year      = {2010},
  abstract  = {The purpose of the current study was to examine the reproducibility of fascicle length and pennation angle of gastrocnemius medialis while human walking. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of the reproducibility of fascicle length and pennation angle of gastrocnemius medialis in vivo during human gait. Twelve males performed 10 gait trials on a treadmill, in 2 separate days. B-mode ultrasonography, with the ultrasound probe firmly adjusted in the transverse and frontal planes using a special cast, was used to measure the fascicle length and the pennation angle of the gastrocnemius medialis (GM). A Vicon 624 system with three cameras operating at 120 Hz was also used to record the ankle and knee joint angles. The results showed that measurements of fascicle length and pennation angle showed high reproducibility during the gait cycle, both within the same day and between different days. Moreover, the root mean square differences between the repeated waveforms of both variables were very small, compared with their ranges (fascicle length: RMS = ∼3 mm, range: 38-63 mm; pennation angle: RMS = ∼1.5°, range: 22-32°). However, their reproducibility was lower compared to the joint angles. It was found that representative data have to be derived by a wide number of gait trials (fascicle length ∼six trials, pennation angle more than 10 trials), to assure the reliability of the fascicle length and pennation angle in human gait.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Albracht2010,
  author    = {Albracht, Kirsten},
  title     = {Influence of mechanical properties of the leg extensor muscletendon units on running economy},
  publisher = {Deutsche Sporthochschule K{\"o}ln},
  address   = {K{\"o}ln},
  pages     = {X, 1221 Bl. : graph. Darst.},
  year      = {2010},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{AlbrachtArampatzisBaltzopoulos2008,
  author    = {Albracht, Kirsten and Arampatzis, A. and Baltzopoulos, V.},
  title     = {Assessment of muscle volume and physiological cross-sectional area of the human triceps surae muscle in vivo},
  series = {Journal of Biomechanics},
  volume    = {41},
  journal   = {Journal of Biomechanics},
  issn      = {0021-9290},
  doi       = {10.1016/j.jbiomech.2008.04.020},
  pages     = {2211 -- 2218},
  year      = {2008},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{AlbrachtArampatzis2013,
  author    = {Albracht, Kirsten and Arampatzis, Adamantios},
  title     = {Exercise-induced changes in triceps surae tendon stiffness and muscle strength affect running economy in humans},
  series = {European Journal of Applied Physiology},
  volume    = {113},
  journal   = {European Journal of Applied Physiology},
  number    = {6},
  publisher = {Springer},
  address   = {Berlin},
  issn      = {1439-6327},
  doi       = {10.1007/s00421-012-2585-4},
  pages     = {1605 -- 1615},
  year      = {2013},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{AlbrachtArampatzis2006,
  author    = {Albracht, Kirsten and Arampatzis, Adamantios},
  title     = {Influence of the mechanical properties of the muscle-tendon unit on force generation in runners with different running economy},
  series = {Biological Cybernetics},
  volume    = {95},
  journal   = {Biological Cybernetics},
  number    = {1},
  issn      = {1432-0770},
  doi       = {10.1007/s00422-006-0070-z},
  pages     = {87 -- 96},
  year      = {2006},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{ArampatzisKaramanidisAlbracht2007,
  author    = {Arampatzis, Adamantios and Karamanidis, Kiros and Albracht, Kirsten},
  title     = {Adaptational responses of the human Achilles tendon by modulation of the applied cyclic strain magnitude},
  series = {Journal of Experimental Biology},
  volume    = {210},
  journal   = {Journal of Experimental Biology},
  number    = {15},
  issn      = {0022-0949},
  doi       = {10.1242/jeb.003814},
  pages     = {2743 -- 2753},
  year      = {2007},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{ArampatzisKaramanidisMademlietal.2009,
  author    = {Arampatzis, Adamantios and Karamanidis, Kiros and Mademli, Lida and Albracht, Kirsten},
  title     = {Plasticity of the human tendon to short and long-term mechanical loading},
  series = {Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews},
  volume    = {37},
  journal   = {Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews},
  number    = {2},
  issn      = {1538-3008},
  doi       = {10.1097/JES.0b013e31819c2e1d},
  pages     = {66 -- 72},
  year      = {2009},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{ArampatzisPeperBierbaumetal.2010,
  author    = {Arampatzis, Adamantios and Peper, Andreas and Bierbaum, Stefanie and Albracht, Kirsten},
  title     = {Plasticity of human Achilles tendon mechanical and morphological properties in response to cyclic strain},
  series = {Journal of Biomechanics},
  volume    = {43},
  journal   = {Journal of Biomechanics},
  number    = {16},
  publisher = {Elsevier},
  address   = {Amsterdam},
  issn      = {0021-9290},
  doi       = {10.1016/j.jbiomech.2010.08.014},
  pages     = {3073 -- 3079},
  year      = {2010},
  abstract  = {The purpose of the current study in combination with our previous published data (Arampatzis et al., 2007) was to examine the effects of a controlled modulation of strain magnitude and strain frequency applied to the Achilles tendon on the plasticity of tendon mechanical and morphological properties. Eleven male adults (23.9±2.2 yr) participated in the study. The participants exercised one leg at low magnitude tendon strain (2.97±0.47\%), and the other leg at high tendon strain magnitude (4.72±1.08\%) of similar frequency (0.5 Hz, 1 s loading, 1 s relaxation) and exercise volume (integral of the plantar flexion moment over time) for 14 weeks, 4 days per week, 5 sets per session. The exercise volume was similar to the intervention of our earlier study (0.17 Hz frequency; 3 s loading, 3 s relaxation) allowing a direct comparison of the results. Before and after the intervention ankle joint moment has been measured by a dynamometer, tendon-aponeurosis elongation by ultrasound and cross-sectional area of the Achilles tendon by magnet resonance images (MRI). We found a decrease in strain at a given tendon force, an increase in tendon-aponeurosis stiffness and tendon elastic modulus of the Achilles tendon only in the leg exercised at high strain magnitude. The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the Achilles tendon did not show any statistically significant (P>0.05) differences to the pre-exercise values in both legs. The results indicate a superior improvement in tendon properties (stiffness, elastic modulus and CSA) at the low frequency (0.17 Hz) compared to the high strain frequency (0.5 Hz) protocol. These findings provide evidence that the strain magnitude applied to the Achilles tendon should exceed the value, which occurs during habitual activities to trigger adaptational effects and that higher tendon strain duration per contraction leads to superior tendon adaptational responses.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{BelavyAlbrachtBruggemannetal.2016,
  author    = {Belavy, Daniel L. and Albracht, Kirsten and Bruggemann, Gert-Peter and Vergroesen, Pieter-Paul A. and Dieen, Jaap H. van},
  title     = {Can exercise positively influence the intervertebral disc?},
  series = {Sports Medicine},
  volume    = {46},
  journal   = {Sports Medicine},
  number    = {4},
  publisher = {Springer},
  address   = {Berlin},
  issn      = {1179-2035},
  doi       = {10.1007/s40279-015-0444-2},
  pages     = {473 -- 485},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {To better understand what kinds of sports and exercise could be beneficial for the intervertebral disc (IVD), we performed a review to synthesise the literature on IVD adaptation with loading and exercise. The state of the literature did not permit a systematic review; therefore, we performed a narrative review. The majority of the available data come from cell or whole-disc loading models and animal exercise models. However, some studies have examined the impact of specific sports on IVD degeneration in humans and acute exercise on disc size. Based on the data available in the literature, loading types that are likely beneficial to the IVD are dynamic, axial, at slow to moderate movement speeds, and of a magnitude experienced in walking and jogging. Static loading, torsional loading, flexion with compression, rapid loading, high-impact loading and explosive tasks are likely detrimental for the IVD. Reduced physical activity and disuse appear to be detrimental for the IVD. We also consider the impact of genetics and the likelihood of a 'critical period' for the effect of exercise in IVD development. The current review summarises the literature to increase awareness amongst exercise, rehabilitation and ergonomic professionals regarding IVD health and provides recommendations on future directions in research.},
  language  = {en}
}