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Effects of the functional heel drop exercise on the muscle architecture of the gastrocnemius
Alonso-Fernandez D, Taboada-Iglesias Y, Garcia-Remeseiro T, Gutierrez-Sanchez A
Journal of Sport Rehabilitation 2020 Nov;29(8):1053-1059
clinical trial
5/10 [Eligibility criteria: No; Random allocation: Yes; Concealed allocation: No; Baseline comparability: Yes; Blind subjects: No; Blind therapists: No; Blind assessors: Yes; Adequate follow-up: No; Intention-to-treat analysis: No; Between-group comparisons: Yes; Point estimates and variability: Yes. Note: Eligibility criteria item does not contribute to total score] *This score has been confirmed*

CONTEXT: The architectural characteristics of a muscle determine its function. OBJECTIVE: To determine the architectural adaptations of the lateral gastrocnemius (LG) and medial gastrocnemius (MG) muscles after a functional eccentric strength training protocol consisting of heel drop exercises, followed by a subsequent detraining period. DESIGN: Pretest and posttest. SETTING: Training rooms and laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: The participants (N = 45) who were randomly divided into an experimental group (EG, n = 25) and a control group (CG, n = 20). INTERVENTIONS: The 13-week intervention included participants (N = 45) who were randomly divided into an EG (n = 25) and a CG (n = 20). The EG performed a week of control and training, 8 weeks of eccentric training, and 4 weeks of detraining. The CG did not perform any type of muscular training. The architectural characteristics of the LG and MG muscles were evaluated at rest in both groups using 2-D ultrasound before (pretest -- week 1) and after (posttest -- week 9) the training, and at the end of the detraining period (retest -- week 13). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: One-way repeated measures analysis of variance was used to determine training-induced changes in each of the variables of the muscle architecture. RESULTS: After the training period, the members of the EG experienced a significant increase in the fascicle length of LG (t = -9.85, d = 2.78, p < 0.001) and MG (t = -8.98, d = 2.54, p < 0.001), muscle thickness (t = -6.71, d = 2.86, p < 0.001) and (t = -7.85, d = 2.22, p < 0.001), and the pennation angle (t = -10.21, d = 1.88, p < 0.05) and (t = -1.87, d = 0.53, p < 0.05), respectively. After the detraining period, fascicle length, muscle thickness, and pennation angle showed a significant decrease. In the CG, no significant changes were observed in any of the variables. CONCLUSIONS: The heel drop exercise seems to generate adaptations in the architectural conditions of LG and MG, which are also reversible after a detraining period. These results may have practical implications for injury prevention and rehabilitation programs.
Copyright Human Kinetics. Reprinted with permission from Human Kinetics (Champaign, IL).

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