TY  - JOUR
A1  - Belavy, Daniel L.
A1  - Albracht, Kirsten
A1  - Bruggemann, Gert-Peter
A1  - Vergroesen, Pieter-Paul A.
A1  - Dieen, Jaap H. van
T1  - Can exercise positively influence the intervertebral disc?
JF  - Sports Medicine
N2  - 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.
KW  - Intradiscal Pressure
KW  - Annulus Fibrosus
KW  - Disc Degeneration
KW  - Nucleus Pulposus
KW  - Intervertebral Disc
Y1  - 2016
U6  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40279-015-0444-2
SN  - 1179-2035
VL  - 46
IS  - 4
SP  - 473
EP  - 485
PB  - Springer
CY  - Berlin
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Yang, Peng-Fei
A1  - Kriechbaumer, Andreas
A1  - Albracht, Kirsten
A1  - Sanno, Maximilian
A1  - Ganse, Bergita
A1  - Koy, Timmo
A1  - Shang, Peng
A1  - Brüggemann, Gert-Peter
A1  - Müller, Lars Peter
A1  - Rittweger, Jörn
T1  - On the relationship between tibia torsional deformation and regional muscle contractions in habitual human exercises in vivo
JF  - Journal of Biomechanics
Y1  - 2015
U6  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2014.12.031
SN  - 0021-9290
VL  - 48
IS  - 3
SP  - 456
EP  - 464
PB  - Elsevier
CY  - Amsterdam
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Seynnes, O. R.
A1  - Bojsen-Moller, J.
A1  - Albracht, Kirsten
A1  - Arndt, A.
A1  - Cronin, N. J.
A1  - Finni, T.
A1  - Magnusson, S. P.
T1  - Ultrasound-based testing of tendon mechanical properties: a critical evaluation
JF  - Journal of Applied Physiology
Y1  - 2015
U6  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00849.2014
SN  - 8750-7587
VL  - 118
IS  - 2
SP  - 133
EP  - 141
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Albracht, Kirsten
A1  - Arampatzis, Adamantios
T1  - Exercise-induced changes in triceps surae tendon stiffness and muscle strength affect running economy in humans
JF  - European Journal of Applied Physiology
Y1  - 2013
U6  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00421-012-2585-4
SN  - 1439-6327
VL  - 113
IS  - 6
SP  - 1605
EP  - 1615
PB  - Springer
CY  - Berlin
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Karamanidis, Kiros
A1  - Albracht, Kirsten
A1  - Braunstein, Bjoern
A1  - Catala, Maria Moreno
A1  - Goldmann, Jan-Peter
A1  - Brüggemann, Gert-Peter
T1  - Lower leg musculoskeletal geometry and sprint performance
JF  - Gait and Posture
N2  - The purpose of this study was to investigate whether sprint performance is related to lower leg musculoskeletal geometry within a homogeneous group of highly trained 100-m sprinters. Using a cluster analysis, eighteen male sprinters were divided into two groups based on their personal best (fast: N = 11, 10.30 ± 0.07 s; slow: N = 7, 10.70 ± 0.08 s). Calf muscular fascicle arrangement and Achilles tendon moment arms (calculated by the gradient of tendon excursion versus ankle joint angle) were analyzed for each athlete using ultrasonography. Achilles tendon moment arm, foot and ankle skeletal geometry, fascicle arrangement as well as the ratio of fascicle length to Achilles tendon moment arm showed no significant (p > 0.05) correlation with sprint performance, nor were there any differences in the analyzed musculoskeletal parameters between the fast and slow sprinter group. Our findings provide evidence that differences in sprint ability in world-class athletes are not a result of differences in the geometrical design of the lower leg even when considering both skeletal and muscular components.
Y1  - 2011
U6  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2011.03.009
SN  - 0966-6362
VL  - 34
IS  - 1
SP  - 138
EP  - 141
PB  - Elsevier
CY  - Amsterdam
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Arampatzis, Adamantios
A1  - Karamanidis, Kiros
A1  - Mademli, Lida
A1  - Albracht, Kirsten
T1  - Plasticity of the human tendon to short and long-term mechanical loading
JF  - Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews
Y1  - 2009
U6  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/JES.0b013e31819c2e1d
SN  - 1538-3008
VL  - 37
IS  - 2
SP  - 66
EP  - 72
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Albracht, Kirsten
A1  - Arampatzis, A.
A1  - Baltzopoulos, V.
T1  - Assessment of muscle volume and physiological cross-sectional area of the human triceps surae muscle in vivo
JF  - Journal of Biomechanics
Y1  - 2008
U6  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2008.04.020
SN  - 0021-9290
VL  - 41
SP  - 2211
EP  - 2218
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Arampatzis, Adamantios
A1  - Karamanidis, Kiros
A1  - Albracht, Kirsten
T1  - Adaptational responses of the human Achilles tendon by modulation of the applied cyclic strain magnitude
JF  - Journal of Experimental Biology
Y1  - 2007
U6  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1242/jeb.003814
SN  - 0022-0949
VL  - 210
IS  - 15
SP  - 2743
EP  - 2753
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Albracht, Kirsten
A1  - Arampatzis, Adamantios
T1  - Influence of the mechanical properties of the muscle-tendon unit on force generation in runners with different running economy
JF  - Biological Cybernetics
Y1  - 2006
U6  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00422-006-0070-z
SN  - 1432-0770
VL  - 95
IS  - 1
SP  - 87
EP  - 96
ER  - 
TY  - CHAP
A1  - Abel, Thomas
A1  - Bonin, Dominik
A1  - Albracht, Kirsten
A1  - Zeller, Sebastian
A1  - Burkett, Brendan
T1  - Kinematische Untersuchung der Kurbelbewegung im Handcycling: Entwicklung einer sportartspezifischen Methode
T2  - Behindertensport 1951-2011 : Historische und aktuelle Aspekte im nationalen und internationalen Dialog
Y1  - 2015
SN  - 9783898997249
SP  - 82
EP  - 91
PB  - Meyer & Meyer
CY  - Aachen
ER  -