E. Bressel et Pj. Mcnair, Biomechanical behavior of the plantar flexor muscle-tendon unit after an Achilles tendon rupture, AM J SP MED, 29(3), 2001, pp. 321-326
The purpose of this study was to examine the biomechanical behavior of the
plantar flexor muscle-tendon unit in subjects who had ruptured their Achill
es tendon. Twenty-six men and 14 women volunteered for the study, Eighteen
subjects had been treated operatively and 22, nonoperatively. All subjects
had ruptured their Achilles tendon more than 1 year before the study, and 2
8 of the 40 ruptures occurred 5 years or less before the day of testing. A
KinCom dynamometer was used to measure ankle joint angle, passive torque, a
nd maximal isometric plantar flexor torque. During a 2-minute passive calf
stretch, stiffness and torque relaxation were calculated. Isometric torque
and peak passive torque were 17% and 10% greater for the uninvolved versus
the involved limb, whereas stiffness and torque relaxation were not differe
nt between limbs. The time since injury did not influence the results, nor
did the mode of initial treatment, that is, whether the subjects were treat
ed operatively or nonoperatively. These findings suggest that changes in st
rength and peak passive torque may be chronic adaptations associated with A
chilles tendon rupture.