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Updated: Jun 3, 2025
07:32
Murine Flexor Tendon Injury and Repair Surgery
Published on: September 19, 2016
13.0K
Muscle Contraction Is Essential for Tendon Healing and Muscle Function Recovery After Achilles Tendon Rupture and
Moe Yoneno1,2, Yuki Minegishi3, Haruna Takahashi1,2
1Graduate School of Health, Medicine, and Welfare, Saitama Prefectural University, Koshigaya, Saitama, Japan.
Summary
Early calf muscle contractions, like electrical muscle stimulation, enhance Achilles tendon healing and muscle strength post-surgery. Static stretching offers no benefit and may worsen muscle atrophy.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Regenerative Medicine
- Sports Medicine
Background:
- Achilles tendon rupture and surgical repair can lead to incomplete healing and persistent muscle weakness, impacting patient function.
- Early functional rehabilitation is crucial post-surgery, but optimal methods for promoting tendon healing and preventing muscle atrophy remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of early muscle contraction exercises versus static stretching on Achilles tendon healing and calf muscle recovery after surgical repair.
- To compare electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) and static stretching interventions in a mouse model of Achilles tendon rupture.
Main Methods:
- C57Bl/6 mice underwent Achilles tendon rupture and surgical repair.
- Post-surgery interventions included a non-exercise control, static stretching, and electrical muscle stimulation (EMS).
- Tendon mechanical properties, collagen fiber alignment, and muscle histology were assessed at 3 and 5 weeks post-surgery.
Main Results:
- Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) significantly accelerated the recovery of tendon mechanical properties and muscle strength compared to static stretching.
- Static stretching showed no significant benefit over the non-exercise group regarding tendon healing or muscle atrophy.
- Early muscle contractions, facilitated by EMS, promoted better outcomes than passive stretching.
Conclusions:
- Calf muscle contraction is essential for early functional rehabilitation after Achilles tendon repair, promoting tendon healing through tensile loading.
- Early muscle contractions aid in restoring muscle function post-rupture, though optimal protocols require further research.
- Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) appears to be a promising intervention for enhancing recovery after Achilles tendon surgery.
Keywords:
achilles tendonearly functional rehabilitationmuscle contractionmuscle‐tendon complexphysical therapy/RehabilitationMore Related Videos
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