A1 Journal article (refereed)
Neuromechanical adaptations in the gastrocnemius muscle after Achilles tendon rupture during walking (2025)

Khair, R. M., Watt, J., Sukanen, M., Cronin, N. J., & Finni, T. (2025). Neuromechanical adaptations in the gastrocnemius muscle after Achilles tendon rupture during walking. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 80, Article 102962. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelekin.2024.102962

JYU authors or editors

Khair, Raad
Sukanen, Maria
Cronin, Neil
Juutinen, Taija

Publication details

All authors or editors: Khair, Raad M.; Watt, Jadyn; Sukanen, Maria; Cronin, Neil J.; Finni, Taija

Journal or series: Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology

ISSN: 1050-6411

eISSN: 1873-5711

Publication year: 2025

Publication date: 23/11/2024

Volume: 80

Article number: 102962

Publisher: Elsevier

Publication country: United States

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelekin.2024.102962

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/98635

Abstract

Although some Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) patients regain function in low-force levels activities, it is not yet well known how neuromuscular and structural alterations after ATR manifest during everyday-locomotion. This study assessed medial gastrocnemius (MG) fascicle shortening during walking 1-year after ATR. Additionally, we explored neuromuscular alterations in lateral gastrocnemius (LG), soleus and flexor hallucis longus (FHL) muscles. We observed 3.1 pp (95 %CI 0.8–5.4 pp) higher average and 14.5 pp (95 %CI 0.5–28.5 pp) higher peak LG surface electromyography amplitude in the injured compared to the un-injured during walking, but no differences were observed in soleus or FHL. The injured limb fascicles were 12.9 mm shorter while standing compared to the un-injured limb. In absolute terms, MG shortening in the injured limb was 2.8 mm (95 %CI 0.96–4.6 mm) smaller compared to the un-injured limb. However, when normalized to standing fascicle length, the amount of shortening was not different between the limbs. Our results showed that 1-year after ATR, MG muscle had remodelled, which manifested as shorter fascicle length during standing. During walking, injured and un-injured MG fascicles showed similar shortening relative to the standing fascicle length, suggesting that MG could function effectively at the new mechanical settings during everyday locomotion.

Keywords: calcaneal tendon; tendons; damages (injuries); recovering; disabilities; muscle activity

Free keywords: operating length; fascicle; rupture; gait; flexor hallucis longus

Fields of science: