Momoka Kinoshita is an Undergraduate student in SHS and Sumiaki Maeo is an Assistant Professor in SHS, and their research manuscript “Triceps surae muscle hypertrophy is greater after standing versus seated calf-raise training” has been published in Frontiers in Physiology. In this study, they collaborated with Tadao Isaka (Professor in SHS), Takashi Sugiyama (Assistant Professor in SHS), Yuuri Eihara (Graduate Student in SHS), Yuuto Kobayashi (Graduate Student in SHS), Munetaka Ono (Graduate in master’s SHS), Mauto Sato (Graduate in master’s SHS) and Hiroaki Kanehisa (President of the National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya).

 The triceps surae is lengthened more in a knee-extended than knee-flexed position, due to its bi-articular nature crossing the knee and ankle joints. This study compared the hypertrophic effect of calf-raise training performed in a standing versus seated position. The result showed triceps surae muscle size was 2.7-fold more effectively increased by calf-raise training performed in the standing than seated position, suggesting that training at long muscle lengths promotes muscle hypertrophy. Since the triceps surae is difficult to hypertrophy but prone to atrophy with inactivity compared with other muscles, the result of this study will be useful in sports and clinical settings when considering an effective training method to maximize muscle hypertrophy and minimize muscle atrophy of the triceps surae.

Journal website:
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2023.1272106/full