Measurement of active muscle stiffness with and without the stretch reflex

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate active muscle stiffness with the stretch reflex according to changes (in 110-ms period after stretching) in torque and fascicle length during slower angular velocity (peak angular velocity of 100 deg·s−1) in comparison with active muscle stiffness without the stretch reflex (in 60-ms period after stretching) during slower and faster (peak angular velocity of 250 deg·s−1) angular velocities. Active muscle stiffness in the medial gastrocnemius muscle was calculated according to changes in estimated muscle force and fascicle length with slower and faster stretching during submaximal isometric contractions (10-90% maximal voluntary contractions). Active muscle stiffness significantly increased for both angular velocities and analyzed periods as torque levels exerted became higher. The effects of angular velocities and the interaction between angular velocities and torque levels were not significantly different between 250 deg·s−1 (in 60-ms period after stretching) and 100 deg·s−1 (in 110-ms period after stretching) conditions. The effects of the analyzed periods and the interaction between analyzed periods and torque levels were not significantly different between the analyzed periods (60-ms and 110-ms periods after stretching) for the 100 deg·s−1 condition. Furthermore, active muscle stiffness measured during the same angular velocity had significant correlations between those calculated in the different analyzed periods, whereas those under 250 deg·s−1 (60-ms period after stretching) did not correlate with those under 100 deg·s−1 (110-ms period after stretching). These results suggest that active muscle stiffness is not influenced by the stretch reflex.