Regional changes in the free Achilles tendon volume in response to repeated submaximal contractions

Q2 Health Professions

Foot Pub Date : 2024-10-07 DOI:10.1016/j.foot.2024.102141

Eman Merza , Stephen Pearson , Glen Lichtwark , Peter Malliaras

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction

The Achilles tendon (AT) may become smaller in volume following acute bouts of heavy and sustained loading likely because of transient fluid exudation to the periphery and this could augment cellular mechanotransduction and tendon adaptation. Given the structure of the AT is distinct across its length, regional changes in the free AT volume may occur in response to loading. This study aimed to investigate whether the change in tendon volume in response to repeated submaximal loading is distinct across the free AT length.

Methods

Sixteen ATs of healthy males and females (age 24.4 ± 9.4 years, body mass 70.9 ± 16.1 kg, height 1.7 ± 0.1 m) were scanned at rest using freehand 3D ultrasound. Scanning was done before and immediately after submaximal (75 %) voluntary isometric plantarflexion contractions (8 s) involving four sets of ten repetitions. Regional volumetric changes were assessed across the free AT length by dividing the tendon into distal, mid, and proximal regions.

Results

Significant reduction in the free AT volume occurred across all tendon regions in response to the intervention, however, the mid- region exhibited the greatest reduction in volume compared to the proximal region (P = 0.025).

Discussion

The fact that volume reduction was greatest in the mid-region compared to the proximal region of the free AT may suggest greater tendon adaptation, via mechanotransduction pathways, in the mid-region and this may be important for tendon health and injury prevention.

查看原文本刊更多论文

跟腱游离体积在反复亚极限收缩时的区域变化。

简介：跟腱（AT）在承受急性重负荷和持续负荷后体积可能会变小，这可能是由于液体向外周短暂渗出，从而增强了细胞的机械传导性和肌腱的适应性。鉴于肌腱反射区的结构在整个长度上各不相同，因此游离肌腱反射区的体积可能会因负荷而发生区域性变化。本研究旨在探究肌腱体积对重复次最大负荷的响应变化在自由 AT 长度上是否不同：使用自由手持式三维超声波对 16 名健康男性和女性（年龄为 24.4 ± 9.4 岁，体重为 70.9 ± 16.1 千克，身高为 1.7 ± 0.1 米）的肌腱在静止时进行扫描。扫描是在亚极限（75%）自主等长跖屈收缩（8 秒）之前和之后立即进行的，包括四组 10 次重复。通过将肌腱分为远端、中间和近端区域，评估了游离肌腱长度上的区域容积变化：结果：所有肌腱区域的游离肌腱体积在干预后都有显著减少，但与近端区域相比，中端区域的体积减少幅度最大（P = 0.025）：讨论：与游离肌腱近端区域相比，游离肌腱中段区域的体积减少幅度最大，这一事实可能表明，通过机械传导途径，中段区域的肌腱适应性更强，这可能对肌腱健康和预防损伤非常重要。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Foot Health Professions-Podiatry

CiteScore

2.00

自引率

0.00%

发文量

期刊介绍： The Foot is an international peer-reviewed journal covering all aspects of scientific approaches and medical and surgical treatment of the foot. The Foot aims to provide a multidisciplinary platform for all specialties involved in treating disorders of the foot. At present it is the only journal which provides this inter-disciplinary opportunity. Primary research papers cover a wide range of disorders of the foot and their treatment, including diabetes, vascular disease, neurological, dermatological and infectious conditions, sports injuries, biomechanics, bioengineering, orthoses and prostheses.