A relação da função muscular e da rigidez articular no desempenho do atleta

Abstract

Introduction: Athletic performance is the result of a complex interaction among various physiological, biomechanical, and psychological factors, culminating in the effective and efficient execution of specific sports skills. Muscle function is essential to understanding the crucial role that muscles play in performing sports movements. Joint stiffness, influenced both by muscle contraction and the passive stiffness of surrounding structures, plays a vitally important role in joint biomechanics. Objective: The aim of this study was to conduct a literature review investigating the relationship between muscle function and joint stiffness in athletes' sports performance. Methodology: This is a literature review that was conducted between September and November 2023 using the databases PUBMED, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), and Embase. Experimental and observational studies published in the last 12 years (2011 - 2023) that evaluated joint stiffness and muscle function in athletes were included. Results: Sixteen articles were deemed suitable for final assessment, encompassing a total of 2,456 participants, with the average age of the study population being 21 years (±8.6 years), ranging from 10 to 45 years, in a predominantly male sample, involving jumping sports and joint stiffness. Conclusion: The relationship between muscle function and joint stiffness is crucial in sports performance. Studies show that optimizing this relationship positively impacts athletic performance.