Do the heel-rise test and isometric strength improve after Achilles tendon repair using Dresden technique?

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.

Tolerancia a la fatiga muscular isométrica de alta intensidad transcurrido un año de evolución de tenorrafias del tendón de Aquiles: resultados preliminares / Tolerance to high intensity isometric muscle fatigue after one year of evolution of Achilles tendon tenorrhaphies: preliminary results

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.

Inducción de poliploidía con clochicina en vitroplantas de Aloe vera (L.) / Induction of polyploidy with colchicine in vitroplants of Aloe vera (L.)

RESUMEN La inducción artificial de la poliploidía es una técnica de fitomejoramiento empleado en plantas de interés medicinal. Sin embargo, pocas especies del género Aloe han sido sometidas a este tratamiento. El objetivo de esta investigación fue estandarizar la técnica de inducción de poliploidía en vitroplantas de Aloe vera (L.). Se realizó un diseño experimental con dos grupos (control y experi mental) a los cuales se les aplicó un estudio citogenético pre y postratamiento por tres generaciones consecutivas. Se evaluaron tres concentraciones de colchicina (0,05; 0,10 y 0,15%) y dos tiempos de exposición (48 y 72 horas). Las vitroplantas controles mantenidas en agua destilada (sin colchicina) por 48 y 72 (T y T2 respectivamente) y las tratadas con solución de colchicina al 0,05% por 48 y 72 horas (T3 y T4 respectivamente), presentaron pocos cambios citogenéticos, siendo la mayoría de sus células diploides. Las plantas tratadas con solución de colchicina a 0,10% por 48 y 72 horas (T5 y T6 respectivamente), lograron la duplica ción cromosómica en más del 50% del tejido. Las tratadas con una concentración de 0,15% por 48 horas (T7) mostraron tejido quimérico con un alto predominio de células poliploides y al aumentar el tiempo de exposición a 72 horas (T8), todas las células fueron poliploides, pero el desarrollo de estas plantas in vitro, fue anormal y con tejido necrótico. Las plantas con T5, se desarrolla ron mejor que con el T6. Se recomienda el uso de la colchicina a una concentración de 0,10% por 48 horas para obtener vitro plantas poliploides en A. vera.

ABSTRACT The artificial induction of polyploidy is a plant breeding technique used in plants of medicinal interest. However, few species of the genus Aloe have been subjected to this treatment. The objective of this research is to standardize the induction technique of polyploidy in vitroplants of Aloe vera (L.). An experimental design was performed with two groups (control and experimental), to which a cytogenetic study was applied pre and post treatment for three consecutive generations. Three concentrations of colchi cine (0.05, 0.10 and 0.15%) and two exposure times (48 and 72 hours) were considered. The control vitroplants kept in distilled water (without colchicine) for 48 and 72 hours (T1 and T2 respectively) and those treated with colchicine's solution at 0.05% for 48 and 72 hours (T3 and T4 respectively), presented few cytogenetic changes, being diploid most of their cells. Plants treated with 0.10% colchicine's solution for 48 and 72 hours (T5 and T6 respectively) achieved chromosomal duplication in more than the 50% of the tissue. Those treated with a concentration of 0.15% for 48 hours (T7) showed chimeric tissue with a high predominance of polyploid cells, and by increasing the exposure time to 72 hours (T8) all cells were polyploid, but the development of these plants in vitro were abnormal and with necrotic tissue. Plants with T5, developed better than with T6. The use of colchicine at a concen tration of 0.10% for 48 hours is recommended to obtain polyploid vitroplants in A. vera.