https://doi.org/10.4081/ejtm.2020.8983
Mechanotendography in Achillodynia shows reduced oscillation variability of pre-loaded Achilles tendon: a pilot study
Submitted: 25 March 2020
Accepted: 9 April 2020
Published: 17 June 2020
Accepted: 9 April 2020
Abstract Views: 780
PDF: 312
HTML: 29
HTML: 29
Publisher's note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Authors
The present study focuses on an innovative approach in measuring the mechanical oscillations of pre-loaded Achilles tendon by using Mechanotendography (MTG) during application of a short yet powerful mechanical pressure impact. This was applied on the forefoot from the plantar side in direction of dorsiflexion, while the subject stood on the ball of the forefoot on one leg. Participants with Achilles tendinopathy (AT; n = 10) were compared to healthy controls (Con; n = 10). Five trials were performed on each side of the body. For evaluation, two intervals after the impulse began (0-100ms; 30-100ms) were cut from the MTG and pressure raw signals. The intrapersonal variability between the five trials in both intervals were evaluated using the arithmetic mean and coefficient of variation of the mean correlation (Spearman rank correlation) and the normalized averaged mean distances, respectively. The AT-group showed a significantly reduced variability in MTG compared to the Con-group (from p = 0.006 to p = 0.028 for different parameters). The 95% confidence intervals (CI) of MTG results were disjoint, whereas the 95% CIs of the pressure signals were similar (p = 0.192 to p = 0.601). We suggest from this work that the variability of mechanical tendon oscillations could be an indicative parameter of an altered Achilles tendon functionality.
Ackermann PW, Phisitkul P, Pearce CJ. Achilles tendinopathy – pathophysiology: state of the art. Journal of ISAKOS: Joint Disorders & Orthopaedic Sports Medicine 2018;3:304-14.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/jisakos-2017-000164
Hirschmüller A. Achillodynie: Pathophysiologie und Diagnostik. Manuelle Therapie 2014;18:107-12.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0034-1383426
Järvinen TAH et al. Achilles tendon injuries. Current Opinion in Rheumatology 2001;13:150-5.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/00002281-200103000-00009
Kearney RS, Parsons N, Metcalfe D, Costa ML. Injection therapies for Achilles tendinopathy. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2015;5:CD010960.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD010960.pub2
Krämer R, Lorenzen J, Vogt PM, Knobloch K. Systematische Literaturanalyse über exzentrisches Training bei chronischer Mid-portion-Achillestendinopathie: Gibt es einen Standard? Systematic Review about Eccentric Training in Chronic Achilles Tendinopathy. Sportverletz Sportschaden 2010;24(4):204-11.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0029-1245820
Mahieu NN, Witvrouw E, Stevens E et al. Intrinsic risk factors for the development of Achilles tendon overuse injury – a prospective study. The American Journal of Sports Medicine 2006;34(2).
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546505279918
Baur H, Divert C, Hirschmuller A et al. Analysis of gait differences in healthy runners and runners with chronic Achilles tendon complaints. Isokinet Exerc Sci 2004;12(2):111-6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3233/IES-2004-0161
Baur H, Müller S, Hirschmüller A et al. Comparison in lower leg neuromuscular activity between runners with unilateral mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy and healthy individuals. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology 2011;21(3):499-505
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelekin.2010.11.010
Beck T. Applications of Mechanomyography for Examining Muscle Function. Editor Travis W Beck. India: Transworld Research Network; 2010. ISBN 978-81-7895-449-3
Schaefer L, Bittmann F. Coherent behavior of neuromuscular oscillations between isometrically interacting subjects: experimental study utilizing wavelet coherence analysis of mechanomyographic and mechanotendographic signals. Scientific Reports 2018;8:15456. https://rdcu.be/9wm2
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-33579-5
Schaefer LV, Torick AH, Matuschek H et al. Synchronization of muscular oscillations between two subjects during isometric interaction. Eur J Trans Myol 2014;24(3):195-202.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4081/bam.2014.3.195
Torick A, Hoff M, Schaefer L et al. Mechanotendografie (MTG) – Messen und Analysieren der Oszillationsmuster von Achillessehnen. Poster presentation at the 44th Congress of German Medicine 2013 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Deutsche Zeitschrift für Sportmedizin 2013;64(7-8):206.
Martin JA et al. Gauging force by tapping tendons. Nature communications 2018;9:1592.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-03797-6
Keuler EM, Loegering IF, Martin JA et al. Shear wave predictions of Achilles tendon loading during human walking. Scientific Reports 2019;9:13419.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-49063-7
Beck TW, Housh T, Fry AC et al. MMG-EMG Cross Spectrum and muscle fiber type. Int J Sports Med 2009;30(7):538-44.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0029-1202349
Yoshitake Y, Shinohara M, Ue H, Moritani T. Characteristics of surface mechanomyogram are dependent on development of fusion of motor units in humans. J Appl Physiol 2002;93:1744-52.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00008.2002
Segeser B, Goesele A, Renggli P. The Achilles tendon in sports. Orthopaede 1995;24(3):252-67.
Thilmann AF, Schwart M, Töpper R et al. Different mechanisms underliw the long-latency stretch reflex response of active human muscle at different joints. J of Physiol 1991;444:631-43.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.1991.sp018898
Frijns CJM, Laman DM, van Duijn MAJ et al. Normal values of patellar and ankle tendon reflex latencies. Clin Neurol Neurosur 1997;99:31-6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0303-8467(96)00593-8
Diener HC, Dichgans J, Bootz F, Bacher M. Early stabilization of human posture after a sudden disturbance: influence of rate and amplitude of displacement. Exp Brain Res 1984;56:126-34.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00237448
Atwood HL, MacKay WA. Neurophysiologie. Schattauer: 1994.
Cè E, Rampichini S, Monti E et al. Changes in the electromechanical delay components during a fatiguing stimulation in human skeletal muscle: an EMG, MMG and force combined approach. Eur J Appl Physiol 2017;117:95-117.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-016-3502-z
Cè E, Rampichini S, Limonta E, Esposito F. Reliability of the electromechanical delay components assessment during the relaxation phase. Physiology Journal 2013;517838:1-7.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/517838
Esposito F, Limonta E, Cè E. Passive stretching effects on electromechanical delay and time course of recovery in human skeletal muscle: new insights from an electromyographic and mechanomyographic combined approach. Eur J Appl Physiol 2011;111:485-95.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-010-1659-4
Rothwell JC et al. Motor cortex stimulation in intact man. Brain 1987;110:1173-90.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/110.5.1173
Forgaard CJ, Franks IM, Maslovat D et al. Voluntary reaction time and long-latency reflex modulation. J Neurophysiol 2015;114:3386-99.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.00648.2015
Stam J, Tan KM. Tendon reflex variability and method of stimulation. Electroencephalography and clinical neurophysiology 1987;67:463-7.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-4694(87)90010-1
Winter DA. Kinematic and kinetic patterns in human gait: Variability and compensating effects. Human Movement Science 1984;3:51-76.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0167-9457(84)90005-8
Jelen P, Wit A, Dudzinski K, Nolan L. Expressing gait-line symmetry in able-bodied gait. Dynamic Medicine 2008;7:17.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-5918-7-17
Bittmann F, Badtke G, Silbermann U. Kontrolle des Rehabilitationsverlaufes nach Knie- und Sprunggelenksverletzungen mit Hilfe der Computerdynographie. Poster presentation at the 34th congress of sports medicine 1995 in Saarbrücken, Germany. Deutsche Zeitschrift für Sportmedizin 1995;63(7-8):200.
Dickenson AH. Gate Control Theory of pain stands the test of time. Brit J Anaesthesia 2002;88(6):755-7.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/bja/88.6.755
How to Cite
Schaefer, L., & Bittmann, F. (2020). Mechanotendography in Achillodynia shows reduced oscillation variability of pre-loaded Achilles tendon: a pilot study. European Journal of Translational Myology, 30(2), 247–257. https://doi.org/10.4081/ejtm.2020.8983
PAGEPress has chosen to apply the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0) to all manuscripts to be published.