Calf muscle atrophy and Achilles tendon healing following experimental tendon division and surgery in rats - Comparison of postoperative immobilization of the muscle-tendon complex in relaxed and tensioned positions
J. Rantanen et al., Calf muscle atrophy and Achilles tendon healing following experimental tendon division and surgery in rats - Comparison of postoperative immobilization of the muscle-tendon complex in relaxed and tensioned positions, SC J MED SC, 9(1), 1999, pp. 57-61
Citations number
14
Categorie Soggetti
Ortopedics, Rehabilitation & Sport Medicine
Journal title
SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE & SCIENCE IN SPORTS
We used a rat model to study the effects of immobilization of the calf musc
le-tendon complex after an experimental Achilles tendon repair. Immobilizat
ions of the complex in either a relaxed or tensioned position were compared
by histochemical and morphometric analyses at the site of the tendon injur
y as well as in the gastrocnemius and soleus muscle bellies. The type of im
mobilization did not affect the healing of the tendon injury because no rer
uptures occurred in either of the treatment groups and the average tendon e
nd-to-end distance did not differ between the groups. However, immobilizati
on in a relaxed position led to a significantly more extensive fiber atroph
y in the calf muscles. In clinical practice, these results suggest that reh
abilitation after Achilles tendon surgery can be early and gradually tensio
n- and load-increasing without a significant increase in the risk of rerupt
ure of the tendon.