Abstract
This study aimed to determine the elastic properties of human triceps brachii (TB) tendon. The elongation of the TB tendon was directly measured in 9 healthy males using ultrasonography during ramp isometric elbow-extension up to the maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). The slope of the regression line for the relationship between the estimated muscle force and the angular rotation-corrected tendon elongation above 50%MVC was defined as stiffness. The stiffness of the TB tendon, 83±22 N/mm, was comparable with that of the gastrocnemius tendon reported previously. The relationship between the stiffness and the tendon length (TL) showed a negatively significant correlation, suggesting that the stiffness of TB tendon is influenced by its dimensions.
