Distal overactivation of gastrocnemius medialis in persistent plantarflexion weakness following Achilles tendon repair. 2023

Carlos De la Fuente, and Eduardo Martinez-Valdes, and Emmanuel S da Rocha, and Jeam M Geremia, and Marco A Vaz, and Felipe P Carpes
Laboratory of Neuromechanics, Universidade Federal do Pampa, Uruguaiana, Brazil; Carrera de Kinesiología, Departamento de Cs. de la Salud, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Centro de Innovación, Clinica MEDS, Santiago, Chile.

Structural alterations of the triceps surae and Achilles tendon (AT) can promote plantarflexion weakness one-year following an AT repair, influencing the activation strategies of the Gastrocnemius Medialis (GM) muscle. However, this is yet to be demonstrated. We aimed to determine whether patients with plantar flexion weakness one-year after AT repair show altered GM spatial activation. In this cross-sectional and case-control study, ten middle-aged men (age 34 ± 7 years old, and 12.9 ± 1.1 months post-surgery) with a high AT total rupture score who attended conventional physiotherapy for six months after surgery, and ten healthy control men (age 28 ± 9 years old), performed maximal and submaximal (40, 60 and 90%) voluntary isometric plantarflexion contractions on a dynamometer. The peak plantar flexor torque was determined by isokinetic dynamometry and the GM neuromuscular activation was measured with a linear surface-electromyography (EMG) array. Overall EMG activation (averaged channels) increased when the muscle contraction levels increased for both groups. EMG spatial analysis in AT repaired group showed an increased activation located distally at 85-99%, 75-97%, and 79-97% of the electrode array length for 40%, 60%, and 90% of the maximal voluntary isometric contractions, respectively. In conclusion, patients with persistent plantar flexion weakness after AT rupture showed higher distal overactivation in GM.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007537 Isometric Contraction Muscular contractions characterized by increase in tension without change in length. Contraction, Isometric,Contractions, Isometric,Isometric Contractions
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D003430 Cross-Sectional Studies Studies in which the presence or absence of disease or other health-related variables are determined in each member of the study population or in a representative sample at one particular time. This contrasts with LONGITUDINAL STUDIES which are followed over a period of time. Disease Frequency Surveys,Prevalence Studies,Analysis, Cross-Sectional,Cross Sectional Analysis,Cross-Sectional Survey,Surveys, Disease Frequency,Analyses, Cross Sectional,Analyses, Cross-Sectional,Analysis, Cross Sectional,Cross Sectional Analyses,Cross Sectional Studies,Cross Sectional Survey,Cross-Sectional Analyses,Cross-Sectional Analysis,Cross-Sectional Study,Cross-Sectional Surveys,Disease Frequency Survey,Prevalence Study,Studies, Cross-Sectional,Studies, Prevalence,Study, Cross-Sectional,Study, Prevalence,Survey, Cross-Sectional,Survey, Disease Frequency,Surveys, Cross-Sectional
D004576 Electromyography Recording of the changes in electric potential of muscle by means of surface or needle electrodes. Electromyogram,Surface Electromyography,Electromyograms,Electromyographies,Electromyographies, Surface,Electromyography, Surface,Surface Electromyographies
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000125 Achilles Tendon Tendon that connects the muscles in the back of the calf to the HEEL BONE. Calcaneal Tendon,Tendo Calcaneus,Calcaneal Tendons,Tendon, Achilles,Tendon, Calcaneal,Tendons, Calcaneal
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D000843 Ankle Joint The joint that is formed by the inferior articular and malleolar articular surfaces of the TIBIA; the malleolar articular surface of the FIBULA; and the medial malleolar, lateral malleolar, and superior surfaces of the TALUS. Ankle Syndesmosis,Articulatio talocruralis,Distal Tibiofibular Joint,Inferior Tibiofibular Joint,Talocrural Joint,Tibiofibular Ankle Syndesmosis,Tibiofibular Syndesmosis,Ankle Joints,Ankle Syndesmoses,Ankle Syndesmosis, Tibiofibular,Distal Tibiofibular Joints,Inferior Tibiofibular Joints,Joint, Ankle,Joints, Ankle,Syndesmosis, Ankle,Talocrural Joints,Tibiofibular Ankle Syndesmoses,Tibiofibular Joint, Distal,Tibiofibular Syndesmoses
D013708 Tendon Injuries Injuries to the fibrous cords of connective tissue which attach muscles to bones or other structures. Injuries, Tendon,Injury, Tendon,Tendon Injury

Related Publications

Carlos De la Fuente, and Eduardo Martinez-Valdes, and Emmanuel S da Rocha, and Jeam M Geremia, and Marco A Vaz, and Felipe P Carpes
February 2020, Foot & ankle international,
Carlos De la Fuente, and Eduardo Martinez-Valdes, and Emmanuel S da Rocha, and Jeam M Geremia, and Marco A Vaz, and Felipe P Carpes
January 2013, Computer methods in biomechanics and biomedical engineering,
Carlos De la Fuente, and Eduardo Martinez-Valdes, and Emmanuel S da Rocha, and Jeam M Geremia, and Marco A Vaz, and Felipe P Carpes
September 2013, Journal of biomechanics,
Carlos De la Fuente, and Eduardo Martinez-Valdes, and Emmanuel S da Rocha, and Jeam M Geremia, and Marco A Vaz, and Felipe P Carpes
December 2003, Foot & ankle international,
Carlos De la Fuente, and Eduardo Martinez-Valdes, and Emmanuel S da Rocha, and Jeam M Geremia, and Marco A Vaz, and Felipe P Carpes
November 2003, Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery,
Carlos De la Fuente, and Eduardo Martinez-Valdes, and Emmanuel S da Rocha, and Jeam M Geremia, and Marco A Vaz, and Felipe P Carpes
July 2006, The American journal of sports medicine,
Carlos De la Fuente, and Eduardo Martinez-Valdes, and Emmanuel S da Rocha, and Jeam M Geremia, and Marco A Vaz, and Felipe P Carpes
July 2016, Journal of strength and conditioning research,
Carlos De la Fuente, and Eduardo Martinez-Valdes, and Emmanuel S da Rocha, and Jeam M Geremia, and Marco A Vaz, and Felipe P Carpes
February 2005, International orthopaedics,
Carlos De la Fuente, and Eduardo Martinez-Valdes, and Emmanuel S da Rocha, and Jeam M Geremia, and Marco A Vaz, and Felipe P Carpes
April 2005, International orthopaedics,
Carlos De la Fuente, and Eduardo Martinez-Valdes, and Emmanuel S da Rocha, and Jeam M Geremia, and Marco A Vaz, and Felipe P Carpes
June 2009, Foot & ankle international,
Copied contents to your clipboard!