Plantarflexor muscle function in healthy and chronic Achilles tendon pain subjects evaluated by the use of EMG and PET imaging

TY - JOUR

T1 - Plantarflexor muscle function in healthy and chronic Achilles tendon pain subjects evaluated by the use of EMG and PET imaging

AU - Masood, Tahir

AU - Kalliokoski, Kari

AU - Bojsen-Møller, Jens

AU - Magnusson, S Peter

AU - Finni, Taija

N1 - Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

PY - 2014/5

Y1 - 2014/5

N2 - Background Achilles tendon pathologies may alter the coordinative strategies of synergistic calf muscles. We hypothesized that both surface electromyography and positron emission tomography would reveal differences between symptomatic and asymptomatic legs in Achilles tendinopathy patients and between healthy controls. Methods Eleven subjects with unilateral chronic Achilles tendon pain (28 years) and eleven matched controls (28 years) were studied for triceps surae and flexor hallucis longus muscle activity in response to repetitive isometric plantarflexion tasks performed at 30% of maximal voluntary contraction using surface electromyography and glucose uptake using positron emission tomography. Additionally, Achilles tendon glucose uptake was quantified. Findings Normalized myoelectric activity of soleus was higher (P < 0.05) in the symptomatic leg versus the contralateral and control legs despite lower absolute force level maintained (P < 0.005). Electromyography amplitude of flexor hallucis longus was also greater on the symptomatic side compared to the healthy leg (P < 0.05). Both the symptomatic and asymptomatic legs tended to have higher glucose uptake compared to the control legs (overall effect size: 0.9 and 1.3, respectively). Achilles tendon glucose uptake was greater in both legs of the patient group (P < 0.05) compared to controls. Maximal plantarflexion force was ~ 14% greater in the healthier leg compared to the injured leg in the patient group. Interpretations While the electromyography showed greater relative amplitude in the symptomatic leg, the results based on muscle glucose uptake suggested relatively similar behavior of both legs in the patient group. Higher glucose uptake in the symptomatic Achilles tendon suggests a higher metabolic demand.

AB - Background Achilles tendon pathologies may alter the coordinative strategies of synergistic calf muscles. We hypothesized that both surface electromyography and positron emission tomography would reveal differences between symptomatic and asymptomatic legs in Achilles tendinopathy patients and between healthy controls. Methods Eleven subjects with unilateral chronic Achilles tendon pain (28 years) and eleven matched controls (28 years) were studied for triceps surae and flexor hallucis longus muscle activity in response to repetitive isometric plantarflexion tasks performed at 30% of maximal voluntary contraction using surface electromyography and glucose uptake using positron emission tomography. Additionally, Achilles tendon glucose uptake was quantified. Findings Normalized myoelectric activity of soleus was higher (P < 0.05) in the symptomatic leg versus the contralateral and control legs despite lower absolute force level maintained (P < 0.005). Electromyography amplitude of flexor hallucis longus was also greater on the symptomatic side compared to the healthy leg (P < 0.05). Both the symptomatic and asymptomatic legs tended to have higher glucose uptake compared to the control legs (overall effect size: 0.9 and 1.3, respectively). Achilles tendon glucose uptake was greater in both legs of the patient group (P < 0.05) compared to controls. Maximal plantarflexion force was ~ 14% greater in the healthier leg compared to the injured leg in the patient group. Interpretations While the electromyography showed greater relative amplitude in the symptomatic leg, the results based on muscle glucose uptake suggested relatively similar behavior of both legs in the patient group. Higher glucose uptake in the symptomatic Achilles tendon suggests a higher metabolic demand.

KW - Achilles Tendon

KW - Adult

KW - Case-Control Studies

KW - Electromyography

KW - Female

KW - Glucose

KW - Humans

KW - Isometric Contraction

KW - Leg

KW - Male

KW - Muscle, Skeletal

KW - Myalgia

KW - Positron-Emission Tomography

KW - Tendinopathy

KW - Young Adult

U2 - 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2014.03.003

DO - 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2014.03.003

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 24713192

SN - 0268-0033

VL - 29

SP - 564

EP - 570

JO - Clinical Biomechanics

JF - Clinical Biomechanics

IS - 5

ER -