Associations of Achilles Tendon and Plantar Fascia Viscoelastic Properties with Jumping Kinetics in Athletes
Journal of Sport for All and Recreation, cilt.8, sa.3, ss.468-480, 2026 (Hakemli Dergi)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 8 Sayı: 3
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.56639/jsar.2013765
- Dergi Adı: Journal of Sport for All and Recreation
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: SportDiscus, Central & Eastern European Academic Source (CEEAS), ERIHPlus, Asos İndeks
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.468-480
- İstanbul Gelişim Üniversitesi Adresli: Hayır
Özet
Background: The Achilles tendon (AT) and plantar fascia (PF) play a central role in force transmission and elastic energy management during jumping. However, the relationships between their viscoelastic properties and the kinetic components of jumping are not well established. This study investigated the associations between AT and PF viscoelastic properties, foot characteristics, anthropometric variables, and jumping kinetics in athletes. Methods: Twenty-four athletes (13 men, 11 women; aged 18–25 years) competing in volleyball or basketball were included. AT and PF viscoelastic properties were assessed in relaxed and tensioned conditions using a handheld myotonometer. Participants performed right-leg unilateral and left-leg unilateral countermovement jumps (CMJ) and squat jumps (SJ) on a force platform. Concentric peak force, eccentric and concentric peak rate of force development (RFD), landing peak force, and landing peak RFD were calculated. Pearson correlation analyses were performed to examine the associations between tissue properties, anthropometric characteristics, and jumping kinetics. Results: During the right-leg unilateral CMJ, relaxed AT stiffness was positively associated with landing peak force (r = .468, p = .021) and landing peak RFD (r = .408, p = .048), whereas tensioned AT stiffness was positively associated with concentric peak RFD (r = .484, p = .017). PF decrement was negatively associated with concentric peak RFD (r = −.770, p < .001), while relaxed PF stiffness was positively associated with eccentric peak RFD (r = .425, p = .038). During the left-leg unilateral SJ, tensioned AT stiffness was negatively associated with concentric peak force (r = −.439, p = .036) and concentric peak RFD (r = −.451, p = .031). No significant associations between tissue properties and jumping kinetics were observed during the left-leg unilateral CMJ. Conclusion: AT and PF viscoelastic properties were associated with selected force and RFD-related variables, but these associations varied according to the tissue condition, extremity, and jump protocol. This pattern suggests that AT and PF properties may contribute more specifically to force transmission and rapid force development than to uniformly determine overall jumping performance.