TY - JOUR A1 - Monti, Elena A1 - Waldvogel, Janice A1 - Ritzmann, Ramona A1 - Freyler, Kathrin A1 - Albracht, Kirsten A1 - Helm, Michael A1 - De Cesare, Niccolò A1 - Pavan, Piero A1 - Reggiani, Carlo A1 - Gollhofer, Albert A1 - Narici, Marco Vincenzo T1 - Muscle in variable gravity: “I do not know where I am, but I know what to do” JF - Frontiers in Physiology N2 - Performing tasks, such as running and jumping, requires activation of the agonist and antagonist muscles before (motor unit pre-activation) and during movement performance (Santello and Mcdonagh, 1998). A well-timed and regulated muscle activation elicits a stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) response, naturally occurring in bouncing movements (Ishikawa and Komi, 2004; Taube et al., 2012). By definition, the SSC describes the stretching of a pre-activated muscle-tendon complex immediately followed by a muscle shortening in the concentric push-off phase (Komi, 1984). Given the importance of SSC actions for human movement, it is not surprising that many studies investigated the biomechanics of this phenomenon; in particular, drop jumps (DJs) represent a good paradigm to study muscle fascicle and tendon behavior in ballistic movements involving the SSC. Within a DJ, three main phases [pre-activation, braking, and push-off (PO; Komi, 2000)] have been recognized and extensively studied in common and challenging conditions, such as changes in load, falling height, or simulated hypo-gravity (Avela et al., 1994; Arampatzis et al., 2001; Fukashiro et al., 2005; Ishikawa et al., 2005; Sousa et al., 2007; Ritzmann et al., 2016; Helm et al., 2020). These studies show that the timing and amount of triceps-surae muscle-tendon unit pre-activation in DJs are differentially regulated based on the load applied to the muscle, being optimal in normal “Earth” gravity conditions (Avela et al., 1994), but decreased in simulated hypo-gravity, hyper-gravity (Avela et al., 1994; Ritzmann et al., 2016), or unknown conditions (i.e., unknown falling heights; Helm et al., 2020). Some authors indicated that, when falling from heights different from the optimal one [defined as the drop height giving a maximum DJ performance indicated as peak ground reaction force (GRF) or jump high], electromyographic (EMG) activity of the plantar flexors increases from lower than optimal to higher than optimal heights (Ishikawa and Komi, 2004; Sousa et al., 2007). These findings highlight the ability of the central nervous system to regulate the timing and amount of pre-activation according to different jumping conditions, thus regulating muscle fascicle length, tendon and joint stiffness as well as position, in order to safely land on the ground and quickly re-bounce. Similarly, to pre-activation, also in the braking phase, the plantar flexors are differentially regulated. In optimal height (i.e., load) jumping conditions, gastrocnemius medialis (GM) fascicles shorten at early ground contact (possibly due to the intervention of the stretch reflex; Gollhofer et al., 1992) and behave quasi-isometrically in the late braking phase, enabling tendon elongation, and storage of elastic energy (Gollhofer et al., 1992; Fukashiro et al., 2005; Sousa et al., 2007). When increasing the falling height (augmenting the impact GRF), the quasi-isometric behavior of fascicles disappears, and fast fascicle lengthening occurs (Ishikawa et al., 2005; Sousa et al., 2007). In the third and last PO phase, fascicles shorten and the tendon releases the elastic energy previously stored. Bobbert et al. (1987) reported no influence of jumping height on the work done and on the net vertical impulse assessed during PO; this observation suggests that, despite an optimal DJ performance might be achieved only in specific conditions (falling heights, loads), the central nervous system seems to be able to regulate muscle behavior in order to effectively perform the required task also in challenging situations. Although the regulation of triceps-surae muscle-tendon unit in DJs has been extensively investigated, very few studies focused on sarcomeres behavior during the performance of this SSC movement (Kurokawa et al., 2003; Fukashiro et al., 2005, 2006). Sarcomeres represent muscle contractile units and are known to express different amounts of force depending on their length (Gordon et al., 1966; Walker and Schrodt, 1974); thus, understanding the time course of their responses during DJs is fundamental to gain further insights into muscle force-generating capacity. In vivo measurement of sarcomere length in humans has been so far been performed only in static positions and under highly controlled experimental conditions (Llewellyn et al., 2008; Sanchez et al., 2015). Instead, human sarcomere length estimation (achieved by dividing GM measured fascicle length for a fixed sarcomere number) in dynamic contractions provided an indirect measure of sarcomere operating range during squat jump, countermovement jump, and DJ (Fukashiro et al., 2005, 2006; Kurokawa et al., 2003). The results of these studies showed that sarcomeres operate in the ascending limb of their length-tension (L-T) relationship in all types of jumps, and particularly so in DJ. However, most of the available observations on sarcomere and muscle fascicle behavior were made in condition of constant gravity. Thus, in order to understand how sarcomere and muscle fascicle length are regulated in variable gravity conditions, we performed experiments in a parabolic flight, involving variable gravity levels, ranging from about zero-g to about double the Earth’s gravity (1 g; Waldvogel et al., 2021). Specifically, the aims of the present study were as follows: 1. To investigate the ability of the neuromuscular system in regulating fascicle length in response to conditions of variable gravity. 2. To estimate sarcomere operative length in the different DJ phases, in order to calculate its theoretical force production and its possible modulation in conditions of variable gravity. We hypothesized that muscle fascicles would be differentially regulated in different gravity conditions compared to 1 g, particularly in anticipation of landing and re-bouncing in unknown gravity levels. In addition, we hypothesized that sarcomeres would operate in the upper part of the ascending limb of their L-T relationship, possibly lengthening during the braking phase (especially in hyper-gravity) while operating quasi-isometrically in 1 g. KW - parabolic flight KW - drop jump KW - hypo-gravity KW - hyper-gravity KW - sarcomere operating length Y1 - 2021 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.714655 SN - 1664-042X VL - 12 PB - Frontiers Research Foundation CY - Lausanne ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Dreschers, Martin ED - Mönning, Rolf-Dieter T1 - §25 Arbeitsrechtliche Probleme im Rahmen der Betriebsfortführung T2 - Betriebsfortführung in Restrukturierung und Insolvenz Y1 - 2023 SN - 978-3-8145-2012-4 (print) SN - 978-3-8145-5888-2 (e-book) U6 - https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.15375/9783814558882-028 SP - 947 EP - 988 PB - RWS Verlag CY - Köln ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Dreschers, Martin ED - Kübler, Bruno M. ED - Bork, Reinhard ED - Prütting, Hanns T1 - §18 Grenzüberschreitende Eigenverwaltung T2 - HRI II - Handbuch Restrukturierung in der Insolvenz Y1 - 2023 SN - 978-3-8145-2010-0 (print) SN - 978-3-8145-5871-4 (e-book) U6 - https://doi.org/10.15375/9783814558714-028 SP - 524 EP - 556 PB - RWS Verlag CY - Köln ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Werkhausen, Amelie A1 - Albracht, Kirsten A1 - Cronin, Neil J A1 - Paulsen, Gøran A1 - Bojsen-Møller, Jens A1 - Seynnes, Olivier R T1 - Effect of training-induced changes in achilles tendon stiffness on muscle-tendon behavior during landing JF - Frontiers in physiology N2 - During rapid deceleration of the body, tendons buffer part of the elongation of the muscle-tendon unit (MTU), enabling safe energy dissipation via eccentric muscle contraction. Yet, the influence of changes in tendon stiffness within the physiological range upon these lengthening contractions is unknown. This study aimed to examine the effect of training-induced stiffening of the Achilles tendon on triceps surae muscle-tendon behavior during a landing task. Twenty-one male subjects were assigned to either a 10-week resistance-training program consisting of single-leg isometric plantarflexion (n = 11) or to a non-training control group (n = 10). Before and after the training period, plantarflexion force, peak Achilles tendon strain and stiffness were measured during isometric contractions, using a combination of dynamometry, ultrasound and kinematics data. Additionally, testing included a step-landing task, during which joint mechanics and lengths of gastrocnemius and soleus fascicles, Achilles tendon, and MTU were determined using synchronized ultrasound, kinematics and kinetics data collection. After training, plantarflexion strength and Achilles tendon stiffness increased (15 and 18%, respectively), and tendon strain during landing remained similar. Likewise, lengthening and negative work produced by the gastrocnemius MTU did not change detectably. However, in the training group, gastrocnemius fascicle length was offset (8%) to a longer length at touch down and, surprisingly, fascicle lengthening and velocity were reduced by 27 and 21%, respectively. These changes were not observed for soleus fascicles when accounting for variation in task execution between tests. These results indicate that a training-induced increase in tendon stiffness does not noticeably affect the buffering action of the tendon when the MTU is rapidly stretched. Reductions in gastrocnemius fascicle lengthening and lengthening velocity during landing occurred independently from tendon strain. Future studies are required to provide insight into the mechanisms underpinning these observations and their influence on energy dissipation. KW - achilles tendon KW - energy absorption KW - energy dissipation KW - mechanical buffer KW - stiffness Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2018.00794 SN - 1664-042X IS - 9 PB - Frontiers Research Foundation CY - Lausanne ER - TY - GEN T1 - Richtlinie zur Durchführung von Sonderveranstaltungen in den Gebäuden und Liegenschaften der FH Aachen (Veranstaltungsrichtlinie) : vom 20. November 2019 T3 - FH-Mitteilungen - 124a/2019 KW - Amtliche Mitteilung KW - Richtlinie KW - Veranstaltungsrichtlinie KW - Durchführung von Sonderveranstaltungen Y1 - 2019 ER - TY - GEN T1 - Richtlinie zur Durchführung von Sonderveranstaltungen in den Gebäuden und Liegenschaften der FH Aachen (Veranstaltungsrichtlinie) : vom 20. November 2019 Anlage 1 aktualisiert am 22. Januar 2020 T3 - FH-Mitteilungen - 124b/2019 KW - Amtliche Mitteilung KW - Richtlinie KW - Veranstaltungsrichtlinie KW - Durchführung von Sonderveranstaltungen KW - Aktualisierung Y1 - 2019 ER - TY - GEN T1 - Richtlinie für die Beschäftigung und Vergütung studentischer und wissenschaftlicher Hilfskräfte an der Fachhochschule Aachen : vom 20. November 2019 T3 - FH-Mitteilungen - 125a/2019 KW - Amtliche Mitteilung KW - Richtlinie KW - studentische Hilfskräfte KW - wissenschaftliche Hilfkräfte Y1 - 2019 ER - TY - GEN T1 - Richtlinie für die Beschäftigung und Vergütung studentischer und wissenschaftlicher Hilfskräfte an der Fachhochschule Aachen : vom 20. November 2019 aktualisiert am 24. November 2022 T3 - FH-Mitteilungen - 125b/2019 KW - Amtliche Mitteilung KW - Richtlinie KW - studentische Hilfskräfte KW - wissenschaftliche Hilfkräfte Y1 - 2019 ER - TY - GEN T1 - Gleichstellungsquoten der FH Aachen für die Jahre 2019 –2021 : vom 20. November 2019 T3 - FH-Mitteilungen - 126/2019 KW - Amtliche Mitteilung KW - Gleichstellungsquoten KW - 2019 KW - 2020 KW - 2021 Y1 - 2019 ER - TY - GEN T1 - Ordnung zur Aufhebung der Prüfungsordnungen für den Masterstudiengang „Nuclear Applications“ vom 13. Februar 2004 (FH-Mitteilung Nr. 5/2004) und vom 25. Februar 2010 (FH-Mitteilung Nr. 15/2010) in den Fassungen der Bekanntmachung der Änderungsordnungen vom 6. November 2012 (FH-Mitteilung Nr. 120/2012), 18. Juni 2014 (FH- Mitteilung Nr. 72/2014) und vom 15. Juni 2015 (FH-Mitteilung Nr. 28/2015) : vom 29. November 2019 T3 - FH-Mitteilungen - 127/2019 KW - Amtliche Mitteilung KW - Aufhebungsordnung KW - Prüfungsordnung KW - Master KW - Nuclear Applications Y1 - 2023 ER -