American Research Journal of Clinical Case Reports

Abstract Back ground & Introduction: The gastrocnemius and the soleus are the parts of calf muscle. The larger muscle gastrocnemius is situated below the knee on the back of the leg. The soleus muscle, which is a smaller muscle, is lower down the leg and beneath the gastrocnemius. Age causes structural and functional changes in skeletal muscle in a wide range of species, including humans. Aims & Objectives: To compare the impact of age and gender on length and passive elastic stiffness characteristics of the calf muscle tendon unit of active women and men. Materials & methods Subjects: Forty healthy subjects from both genders were recruited for the study by randomization on the basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Subjects were allotted into two groups. Group A (n=10) comprised of females of 20- 39 age group. Group B (n=10) consisted of males of 20- 39 age group. Group C had ten females at age group of 40- 59 age group and Group D had ten males at the age group of 40-59. Subjects having any pathological problem like orthopedic or neurological disorders were excluded from this study. Calf muscle tightness were effectively measured by measuring the range of motion of ankle dorsiflexion using Goniometer with knee extended for gastrocnemius muscle and knee flexed for soleus muscle. Statistical analysis: Effects of age and gender on calf muscle tightness were compared by applying student’s t- test. P –value was set at 0.05 considered to be significant. Results: The results showed that the mean difference of gastrocnemius muscle tightness between females and males at the age of 20- 39 years was significant at p < 0.01 and the mean difference of gastrocnemius muscle tightness between females and males at the age of 40- 59 yrs was significant at p < 0.05. It was evident that the mean difference of gastrocnemius muscle tightness between 20- 39yrs and 40-59yrs of age group in females was not significant at p > 0.05 and the mean difference of gastrocnemius muscle tightness between 20- 39yrs and 40-59yrs of age group in males was significant at p < 0.01. The mean difference of soleus muscle tightness between females and males at the age of 20- 39 yrs was significant at p < 0.01 and the mean difference of soleus muscle tightness between females and males at the age of 40- 59 yrs was significant at p < 0.02.The mean difference of soleus muscle tightness between 20- 39yrs and 40-59yrs of age group in females was not significant at p > 0.05 and the mean difference of soleus muscle tightness between 20- 39yrs and 40-59yrs of age group in males was significant at p < 0.01. Discussion & Conclusion: We concluded from this study that there was a significant increase in calf muscle tightness with aging in males and females. The study also showed that there was gender based difference in males and a female at the age of 40- 59years but there was no gender based difference in males and females at the age group on 20- 39 years. Keywords: gastrocnemius , soleus, calf muscle, plantar flexors, age, gender