The acute effects of exercise on the microvascular volume of Achilles tendons in healthy young subjects

TY - JOUR

T1 - The acute effects of exercise on the microvascular volume of Achilles tendons in healthy young subjects

AU - Pingel, Jessica

AU - Harrison, Adrian

AU - Suetta, Charlotte

AU - Simonsen, Lene

AU - Langberg, Henning

AU - Bülow, Jens

N1 - CURIS 2013 NEXS 253

PY - 2013/7

Y1 - 2013/7

N2 - Background: Real-time harmonic contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEU) is used in several diseases to visualize the microvascularization in various tissues, due to its high sensitivity. Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate whether CEU could be used to detect an increase in the microvascular volume (MV) in healthy tendon tissue in response to exercise comprising a 1-h run. Methods: After a bolus injection of the ultrasound contrast SonoVue®, CEU measurements of (MV) in the Achilles tendon were taken prior to exercise, immediately after a 1-h run, and 24 h after exercise in nine healthy young subjects (seven men and two women) mean age 31 ± 4 years. In addition, the effect of 15 min of arm cycling exercise on the flow within the Achilles tendon was tested in four athletes (mean age 33 ± 6 years) using the CEU method before and after exercise. Results: The present data show a significant increase in the (MV) of the Achilles tendon for all subjects following the run compared with before exercise. No significant change in (MV) was seen in the Achilles tendon after 15-min arm cycling exercise (P = 0·96). This indicates that the increase in microvascular blood volume within the Achilles tendon in response to running is a local response. Conclusion: The present data reveal that real-time harmonic CEU can be used to determine the MV of healthy Achilles tendons both at rest and after 1 h of running exercise.

AB - Background: Real-time harmonic contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEU) is used in several diseases to visualize the microvascularization in various tissues, due to its high sensitivity. Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate whether CEU could be used to detect an increase in the microvascular volume (MV) in healthy tendon tissue in response to exercise comprising a 1-h run. Methods: After a bolus injection of the ultrasound contrast SonoVue®, CEU measurements of (MV) in the Achilles tendon were taken prior to exercise, immediately after a 1-h run, and 24 h after exercise in nine healthy young subjects (seven men and two women) mean age 31 ± 4 years. In addition, the effect of 15 min of arm cycling exercise on the flow within the Achilles tendon was tested in four athletes (mean age 33 ± 6 years) using the CEU method before and after exercise. Results: The present data show a significant increase in the (MV) of the Achilles tendon for all subjects following the run compared with before exercise. No significant change in (MV) was seen in the Achilles tendon after 15-min arm cycling exercise (P = 0·96). This indicates that the increase in microvascular blood volume within the Achilles tendon in response to running is a local response. Conclusion: The present data reveal that real-time harmonic CEU can be used to determine the MV of healthy Achilles tendons both at rest and after 1 h of running exercise.

U2 - 10.1111/cpf.12021

DO - 10.1111/cpf.12021

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 23692613

SN - 1475-0961

VL - 33

SP - 252

EP - 257

JO - Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging

JF - Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging

IS - 4

ER -