Two main types of endurance runners have been identified: aerial runners (AER), who have a larger flight time, and terrestrial runners (TER), who have a longer ground contact time. The purpose of this study was to assess the neuromuscular characteristics of plantar flexors between AER and TER runners. Twenty-four well-trained runners participated in the experiment. They were classified either in a TER or AER group according to the Volodalen® scale. Plantar flexors’ maximal rate of force development (RFD) and maximal voluntary contraction force (MVC) were assessed. Percutaneous electrical stimulation was delivered to the posterior tibial nerve to evoke maximal M-waves and H-reflexes of the triceps surae muscles. These responses, as well as voluntary activation, muscle potentiation, and V-waves, were recorded by superimposing stimulations to MVCs. RFD was significantly higher in AER than in TER, while MVC remained unchanged. This was accompanied by higher myoelectrical activity recorded in the soleus muscle. While M-waves and other parameters remained unchanged, maximal H-reflex was significantly higher in AER than in TER, still in soleus only. The present study raised the possibility of different plantar flexors’ neuromuscular characteristics according to running profile. These differences seemed to be focused on the soleus rather than on the gastrocnemii.

已经确定了两种主要类型的耐力跑者：飞行时间更长的空中跑者 (AER) 和地面接触时间更长的陆地跑者 (TER)。本研究的目的是评估 AER 和 TER 跑步者之间足底屈肌的神经肌肉特征。24 名训练有素的跑步者参加了实验。根据 Volodalen® 量表，他们被分为 TER 或 AER 组。足底屈肌的最大力量发展率 (RFD) 和最大自主收缩力 (MVC) 进行了评估。经皮电刺激传递到胫后神经以激发小腿三头肌的最大 M 波和 H 反射。这些反应，以及自主激活、肌肉增强和 V 波，是通过将刺激叠加到 MVC 来记录的。AER 中的 RFD 显着高于 TER，而 MVC 保持不变。这伴随着比目鱼肌中记录的更高的肌电活动。虽然 M 波和其他参数保持不变，但 AER 中的最大 H 反射明显高于 TER，但仍仅在比目鱼肌中。本研究提出了根据跑步情况不同跖屈肌神经肌肉特征的可能性。这些差异似乎集中在比目鱼肌而不是腓肠肌。本研究提出了根据跑步情况不同跖屈肌神经肌肉特征的可能性。这些差异似乎集中在比目鱼肌而不是腓肠肌。本研究提出了根据跑步情况不同跖屈肌神经肌肉特征的可能性。这些差异似乎集中在比目鱼肌而不是腓肠肌。