Research projects

Influence of backward running on the lower limb muscle tendon unit

11.01.2018

The purpose of his study is to investigate the effect of backward running on the neuromechanical and morphological features of lower limb muscle tendon unit. In particular, the research aims at studying changes in torque, rate of torque development, fiber length, pennation angle, tendon elasticity, tendon strain, and tendon energy storage and recoil during plantar flexion contractions.

The expected scientific and social benefit consists of two major points: Firstly, the identification of possible alterations in the neuromechanical and morphological properties of the muscle tendon unit imposed by a short duration backward running stimuli; secondly, the determination of the mechanical stimuli magnitude needed in order to impose alterations in the neuromechanical and morphological properties of the muscle tendon unit.

The study is conducted and managed by Mansour Attallah. Mansour, assistant professor at Alexandria University, Egypt, was granted a postdoc scholarship for 9 month by the Austrian agency for international mobility and cooperation in education, science and research (OeAD). Prof. Baca, head of the Department of Biomechanics, Kinesiology and Computer Science in Sport of the Institute of Sport Science of the University of Vienna endorsed Mansour Attallah to carry out his research in collaboration with members of the Department.