The effect of acute exercise on collagen turnover in human tendons: influence of prior immobilization period

Lina Steinrud Mørch, Jessica Pingel, Mikael Boesen, Michael Kjær, Henning Langberg

16 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Mechanical loading of human tendon stimulates collagen synthesis, but the relationship between acute loading responses and training status of the tendon is not clear. We tested the effect of prolonged load deprivation on the acute loading-induced collagen turnover in human tendons, by applying the same absolute load to a relative untrained Achilles tendon (2-week immobilization period prior to acute loading) and a habitually loaded contra-lateral Achilles tendon, respectively, within the same individuals. Eight untrained, healthy males had one lower limb totally immobilized for 2 weeks, whereas the contra-lateral leg was used habitually. Following the procedure both Achilles tendons and calf muscles were loaded with the same absolute load during a 1-h treadmill run. Tissue collagen turnover was measured by microdialysis performed post-immobilization but pre-exercise around both Achilles tendons and compared to values obtained by 72-h post-exercise. Power Doppler was used to monitor alterations in intratendinous blood flow velocity of the Achilles tendon and MRI used to quantitate changes in tendon cross-section area. Acute loading resulted in an increased collagen synthesis 72 h after the run in both Achilles tendons (p 
Original languageEnglish
JournalEuropean Journal of Applied Physiology
Volume113
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)449-455
Number of pages7
ISSN1439-6319
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2013

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