Eloïne Angeli

Thesis Topic:

Does increased passive muscle tension change the architecture of the triceps surae in healthy adult individuals compared to slack length?

Muscle architecture, including fascicle length and pennation angle, plays an important role in muscle force production and is often studied in the resting condition. In previous studies, the triceps surae was usually evaluated under slack length, where the muscle was not stretched or loaded. Although these measurements are useful, they do not fully reflect the functional situation in which muscles find themselves during daily movements. Passive tension, in which a joint is moved without active muscle contraction, can influence the structure of the muscle through changes in fascicle length, pennation angle, and the mechanical properties of the muscle-tendon complex. These potential architectural changes have been studied only to a limited extent in existing literature, even though they may be relevant for the correct interpretation of ultrasound measurements in both clinical and sports contexts. In this study, we investigate whether passive muscle tension has a measurable effect on the muscle architecture of the triceps surae compared to slack length.