A1 Journal article (refereed)
Non‐uniform displacement within ruptured Achilles tendon during isometric contraction (2021)

Khair, R. M., Stenroth, L., Péter, A., Cronin, N. J., Reito, A., Paloneva, J., & Finni, T. (2021). Non‐uniform displacement within ruptured Achilles tendon during isometric contraction. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, 31(5), 1069-1077. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.13925

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Khair, Ra’ad M.; Stenroth, Lauri; Péter, Annamária; Cronin, Neil J.; Reito, Aleksi; Paloneva, Juha; Finni, Taija

Journal or series: Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports

ISSN: 0905-7188

eISSN: 1600-0838

Publication year: 2021

Publication date: 04/02/2021

Volume: 31

Issue number: 5

Pages range: 1069-1077

Publisher: Wiley

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.13925

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/74201

Abstract

The purpose of this study was investigate tendon displacement patterns in non‐surgically treated patients 14 months after acute Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) and to classify patients into groups based on their Achilles tendon (AT) displacement patterns. Twenty patients were tested. Sagittal images of AT were acquired using B‐mode ultrasonography during ramp contractions at a torque level corresponding to 30% of the maximal isometric plantarflexion torque of the uninjured limb. A speckle tracking algorithm was used to track proximal‐distal movement of the tendon tissue at 6 antero‐posterior locations. Two‐way repeated measures ANOVA for peak tendon displacement was performed. K‐means clustering was used to classify patients according to AT displacement patterns. The difference in peak relative displacement across locations was larger in the uninjured (1.29 ± 0.87 mm) than the injured limb (0.69 ± 0.68 mm), with a mean difference (95% CI) of 0.60 mm (0.14‐1.05 mm, P < .001) between limbs. For the uninjured limb, cluster analysis formed 3 groups, while 2 groups were formed for the injured limb. The three distinct patterns of AT displacement during isometric plantarflexion in the uninjured limb may arise from subject‐specific anatomical variations of AT sub‐tendons, while the two patterns in the injured limb may reflect differential recovery after ATR with non‐surgical treatment. Subject‐specific tendon characteristics are a vital determinant of stress distribution across the tendon. Changes in stress distribution may lead to variation in the location and magnitude of peak displacement within the free AT. Quantifying internal tendon displacement patterns after ATR provides new insights into AT recovery.

Keywords: tendons; calcaneal tendon; injuries and disabilities; conservative treatment; biomechanics

Free keywords: Achilles tendon; clustering; non‐surgical treatment; rupture; ultrasound speckle tracking

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Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2021

JUFO rating: 2