Author/Authors :
Zhou, Jiping Clinical Medical College of Acupuncture, Moxibustion, and Rehabilitation - Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine,Guangzhou, China , Yu, Jiafeng Department of Rehabilitation Medicine - The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China , Liu, Chunlong Clinical Medical College of Acupuncture, Moxibustion, and Rehabilitation - Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine,Guangzhou, China , Tang, Chunzhi Clinical Medical College of Acupuncture, Moxibustion, and Rehabilitation - Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine,Guangzhou, China , Zhang, Zhijie Luoyang Orthopedic Hospital of Henan Province - Orthopedic Hospital of Henan Province, Luoyang, China
Abstract :
Background. Anatomical studies and the mechanical property studies showed that there is a strong correlation between Achillestendon (AT) elasticity and individual gastrocnemius muscle (the medial head of gastrocnemius (MG) and the lateral head of gastrocnemius (LG)) elasticity. Limited ankle dorsiflexion range of motion has been correlated with decreased flexibility of theMG/LG/AT complex. However, no studies have been conducted to examine the exact correlation between the Achilles tendonand the individual muscle of the gastrocnemius.Purposes. The purposes of the present study were (1) to evaluate intra- and interoperator reliabilities of elastic property measurements in the gastrocnemius muscle-Achilles tendon complex by using theshear wave elastography (SWE) and (2) to examine the correlation between the regional elastic properties of the AT and the individual muscle of the gastrocnemius.Methods. Twenty healthy subjects (mean age: 22.50 (3.02) years) were recruited in this study. The elastic properties of the AT and the individual muscle of the gastrocnemius were quantified using the SWE.Findings.The SWE has comparatively high reliability in quantifying the elastic properties of the muscle-tendon range from good toexcellent. The intraoperator ICC of the gastrocnemius muscle-Achilles tendon complex was 0.77 to 0.95, while the interoperatorICC was 0.76 to 0.94. The minimal detectable change (MDC) of the muscle was 1.72 kPa, while the AT was 32.90 kPa. A significant correlation was found between the elastic modulus of AT and the elastic modulus of the MG (r=0:668andp=0:001at the relaxing position andr=0:481andp=0:032at the neutral position).Conclusions. The SWE has the potential to assesslocalized changes in muscle-tendon elastic properties, provide more intuitive relations between elastic properties of the muscletendon and function, and evaluate the therapeutic effect of the muscle tendon. A significant correlation between the AT and the MG was found, and it may provide a new treatment idea (targeted to the tight muscle heads) for the clinical setting to treat subjects with AT disorders.
