ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Achilles' tendon ruptures result in impaired plantar flexion strength and endurance. It is interesting to know the plantar flexion strength, the number of heel-rise repetitions, and the maximal calf circumference following Achilles' tendon ruptures repair. METHODS: Both the injured and non-injured legs of thirty male patients with Achilles' tendon ruptures treated with the percutaneous Dresden technique were compared with the ankle function of 30 healthy participants. Rehabilitation involved partial weight-bearing for three weeks and then increased to full weight-bearing and ankle exercises. RESULTS: The injured legs had weaker plantar flexion strength (1.64 ± 0.17 Nm/kg) compared with the non-injured legs (1.91 ± 0.24 Nm/kg; p = 0.002) and the healthy participants' legs (1.93 ± 0.32 Nm/kg; p < 0.001). The non-injured leg had greater ability in doing heel-rise repetitions (39.4 ± 6.1 rep.) compared with the injured legs (37.2 ± 5.7 rep.; p < 0.023) and the healthy participants' legs (31.0 ± 13.0 rep.; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The injured leg had not recovered full isometric strength but had improved heel-rise repetition.
Subject(s)
Achilles Tendon , Tendon Injuries , Achilles Tendon/surgery , Heel/surgery , Humans , Male , Rupture/surgery , Tendon Injuries/surgery , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Introducción: Desafortunadamente, posterior a una tenorrafia del tendón de Aquiles existe abandono de la práctica deportiva. Frente ello, son desconocidas las causas y si la capacidad de tolerancia a la fatiga muscular podría ser un factor en disfunción. Objetivo: Comparar la pendiente y tiempo de la fatiga isométrica de la musculatura plantiflexora superficial entre participantes con una tenorrafia del tendón de Aquiles posterior a 1 año y participantes sanos. Métodos: Diez hombres con tenorrafia Aquiliana y tratamiento kinésico convencional (36,7 ± 10,2 años, 172,6 ± 6,1 cm, 83,1 ± 10,9 kg, IMC 27,3 ± 2,8 kg/m2) y diez participantes sanos (29,9 ± 12,0 años, 171,8 ± 5,8 cm, 81,3 ± 12,0 peso corporal, IMC 27,5 ± 3,7 kg/m2) fueron incorporados. Los participantes realizaron una prueba plantiflexora isométrica en un dinamómetro mientras se registró una señal electromiográfica en gastrocnemio medial con un electrodo de alta densidad. La pendiente de la frecuencia peak y el tiempo hasta la fatiga fueron comprados con una prueba-t (α = 5%). Resultados: No se observaron diferencias de las pendientes entre ambos grupos (grupo sano, -0,0051 ± 0,0078 Hz/s vs grupo con tenorrafia, -0,0082 ± 0,0091 Hz/s; p = 0.513). No hubo diferencias para el tiempo hasta la fatiga entre los grupos (grupo sano, 36,1 ± 17,9 s vs grupo con tenorrafia, 32,8 ± 16,0 s; p = 0.692). Conclusión: La tolerancia a la fatiga muscular y el tiempo necesario para sostenerla en alta intensidad (90%) no es un factor de disfunción en pacientes con tenorrafia Aquiliana y terapia kinésica convencional con 1 año postquirúrgico.
Introduction: Unfortunately, after a tenorrhaphy of the Achilles tendon, there is an abandonment of sports practice. Both their causes are unknown, and if the ability to tolerate muscle fatigue may be in dysfunction. Objetive: Here, we compared the fatigue slope of the peak frequency and the time to isometric fatigue of plantar flexors between participants with an Achilles tendon tenorrhaphy after one year of evolution and healthy participants. Methods: Ten men with Achilles tenorrhaphy and traditional physical therapy (36.7 ± 10.2 years, 172.6 ± 6.1 cm, 83.1 ± 10.9 kg, BMI 27.3 ± 2.8 kg/m2) and ten healthy participants (29.9 ± 12.0 years, 171.8 ± 5.8 cm, 81.3 ± 12.0 kg, BMI 27.5 ± 3.7 kg/m2) were included. The participants performed an isometric contraction of plantar flexors on a dynamometer while high-density electromyography signals were recorded. The slope of peak frequency and time to fatigue were compared with a t-test (α = 5%). Results: For frequency slope there was not difference between groups (Healthy group = -0.0051 ± 0.0078 Hz/s vs Tenorrhaphy group = -0.0082 ± 0.0091 Hz/s; p = 0.513). For time to fatigue there was not difference between groups (Healthy group = 36.1 ± 17.9 s vs Tenorrhaphy group = 32.8 ± 16.0 s; p = 0.692). Conclusion: The tolerance to muscle isometric fatigue and the time to fatigue required to sustain it at a high intensity (90%) is not a factor of dysfunction in patients with Achilles tenorrhaphy treated with conventional physical therapy.
