Abstract
Spasticity, contracture, and muscle weakness are commonly observed poststroke in muscles crossing the ankle. However, it is not clear how biomechanical properties of the Achilles tendon change poststroke, which may affect functions of the impaired muscles directly. Biomechanical properties of the Achilles tendon, including the length and cross-sectional area, in the impaired and unimpaired sides of 10 hemiparetic stroke survivors were evaluated using ultrasonography. Elongation of the Achilles tendon during controlled isometric ramp-and-hold and ramping up then down contractions was determined using a blockmatching method. Biomechanical changes in stiffness, Young's modulus, and hysteresis of the Achilles tendon poststroke were investigated by comparing the impaired and unimpaired sides of the 10 patients. The impaired side showed increased tendon length (6%; P = 0.04), decreased stiffness (43%; P < 0.001), decreased Young's modulus (38%; P = 0.005), and increased mechanical hysteresis (1.9 times higher; P < 0.001) compared with the unimpaired side, suggesting Achilles tendon adaptations to muscle spasticity, contracture, and/or disuse poststroke. In vivo quantitative characterizations of the tendon biomechanical properties may help us better understand changes of the calf muscle-tendon unit as a whole and facilitate development of more effective treatments.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 843-849 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Journal of Applied Physiology |
| Volume | 106 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 1 2009 |
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Keywords
- Mechanical property
- Muscle
- Stroke
- Ultrasound
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physiology
- Physiology (medical)
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Ultrasonic evaluations of Achilles tendon mechanical properties poststroke. / Zhao, Heng; Ren, Yupeng; Wu, Yi Ning; Liu, Shu Qian; Zhang, Li-Qun.
In: Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol. 106, No. 3, 01.03.2009, p. 843-849.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Ultrasonic evaluations of Achilles tendon mechanical properties poststroke
AU - Zhao, Heng
AU - Ren, Yupeng
AU - Wu, Yi Ning
AU - Liu, Shu Qian
AU - Zhang, Li-Qun
PY - 2009/3/1
Y1 - 2009/3/1
N2 - Spasticity, contracture, and muscle weakness are commonly observed poststroke in muscles crossing the ankle. However, it is not clear how biomechanical properties of the Achilles tendon change poststroke, which may affect functions of the impaired muscles directly. Biomechanical properties of the Achilles tendon, including the length and cross-sectional area, in the impaired and unimpaired sides of 10 hemiparetic stroke survivors were evaluated using ultrasonography. Elongation of the Achilles tendon during controlled isometric ramp-and-hold and ramping up then down contractions was determined using a blockmatching method. Biomechanical changes in stiffness, Young's modulus, and hysteresis of the Achilles tendon poststroke were investigated by comparing the impaired and unimpaired sides of the 10 patients. The impaired side showed increased tendon length (6%; P = 0.04), decreased stiffness (43%; P < 0.001), decreased Young's modulus (38%; P = 0.005), and increased mechanical hysteresis (1.9 times higher; P < 0.001) compared with the unimpaired side, suggesting Achilles tendon adaptations to muscle spasticity, contracture, and/or disuse poststroke. In vivo quantitative characterizations of the tendon biomechanical properties may help us better understand changes of the calf muscle-tendon unit as a whole and facilitate development of more effective treatments.
AB - Spasticity, contracture, and muscle weakness are commonly observed poststroke in muscles crossing the ankle. However, it is not clear how biomechanical properties of the Achilles tendon change poststroke, which may affect functions of the impaired muscles directly. Biomechanical properties of the Achilles tendon, including the length and cross-sectional area, in the impaired and unimpaired sides of 10 hemiparetic stroke survivors were evaluated using ultrasonography. Elongation of the Achilles tendon during controlled isometric ramp-and-hold and ramping up then down contractions was determined using a blockmatching method. Biomechanical changes in stiffness, Young's modulus, and hysteresis of the Achilles tendon poststroke were investigated by comparing the impaired and unimpaired sides of the 10 patients. The impaired side showed increased tendon length (6%; P = 0.04), decreased stiffness (43%; P < 0.001), decreased Young's modulus (38%; P = 0.005), and increased mechanical hysteresis (1.9 times higher; P < 0.001) compared with the unimpaired side, suggesting Achilles tendon adaptations to muscle spasticity, contracture, and/or disuse poststroke. In vivo quantitative characterizations of the tendon biomechanical properties may help us better understand changes of the calf muscle-tendon unit as a whole and facilitate development of more effective treatments.
KW - Mechanical property
KW - Muscle
KW - Stroke
KW - Ultrasound
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=64349110782&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=64349110782&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1152/japplphysiol.91212.2008
DO - 10.1152/japplphysiol.91212.2008
M3 - Article
C2 - 19118156
AN - SCOPUS:64349110782
VL - 106
SP - 843
EP - 849
JO - Journal of Applied Physiology
JF - Journal of Applied Physiology
SN - 8750-7587
IS - 3
ER -