Medial gastrocnemius muscle fascicle function during heel-rise after non-operative repair of Achilles tendon rupture

van Dijk, Koen, Khair, Raad M., Sukanen, Maria, Cronin, Neil J ORCID: 0000-0002-5332-1188 and Finni, Taija (2023) Medial gastrocnemius muscle fascicle function during heel-rise after non-operative repair of Achilles tendon rupture. Clinical Biomechanics, 105. Art 105977. doi:10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2023.105977

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Text 12694 van Dijk, Khair, Sukanen, Cronin, Finni (2023) Medial gastrocnemius muscle fascicle function during heel-rise after non-operative repair of Achilles tendon rupture.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract

Background: To better understand muscle remodelling in dynamic conditions after an Achilles tendon rupture, this study examined the length of medial gastrocnemius muscle fascicles during a heel-rise at 6- and 12-months after non-operative ATR treatment. Methods: Participants (15 M, 3F) were diagnosed with acute Achilles tendon rupture. Medial gastrocnemius subtendon length, fascicle length and pennation angle were assessed in resting conditions, and fascicle shortening during bi- and unilateral heel-rises. Findings: Fascicle shortening was smaller on the injured side (mean difference [95% CI]: −9. 7 mm [−14.7 to −4.7 mm]; −11.1 mm [−16.5 to −5.8 mm]) and increased from 6- to 12 months (4.5 mm [2.8–6.3 mm]; 3.2 mm [1.4–4.9 mm]) in bi- and unilateral heel-rise, respectively. The injured tendon was longer compared to contralateral limb (2.16 cm [0.54–3.79 cm]) and the length decreased over time (−0.78 cm [−1.28 to −0.29 cm]). Tendon length correlated with fascicle shortening in bilateral (r = −0.671, p = 0.002; r = −0.666, p = 0.003) and unilateral (r = −0.773, p ≤ 0.001; r = −0.616, p = 0.006) heel-rise, at 6- and 12-months, respectively. In the injured limb, the change over time in fascicle shortening correlated with change in subtendon length in unilateral heel-rise (r = 0.544, p = 0.02). Interpretation: This study showed that the lengths of the injured tendon and associated muscle can adapt throughout the first year after rupture when patients continue physiotherapy and physical exercises. For muscle, measures of resting length may not be very informative about adaptations, which manifest themselves during functional tasks such as unilateral heel-rise.

Item Type:	Article
Article Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Muscle; Subtendon; Resting length; Heel-rise; Non-operative treatment
Subjects:	Q Science > QP Physiology > QP301.H75 Physiology. Sport R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC1200 Sports Medicine
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > School of Education and Science
Research Priority Areas:	Health, Life Sciences, Sport and Wellbeing
Depositing User:	Anna Kerr
Date Deposited:	17 May 2023 15:41
Last Modified:	31 Aug 2023 09:06
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/12694

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