This time, I'd like to talk about Achilles tendon disorders and gastrocnemius stiffness.
Do you think the gastrocnemius muscle will become stiff if the Achilles tendon is damaged in some way?
Muscle strength is a useful biomarker for muscles, so it is worthwhile to investigate muscle strength in clinical practice.
Since the Achilles tendon is also composed of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles, the relationship between the condition of these muscles and Achilles tendon disorders cannot be ignored.Here is a study that investigated the relationship.
Contents of the study
The purpose of this study will be to establish the quantitative values of gastrocnemius muscle stiffness in patients diagnosed with Achilles tendon disorders.
It will be a case-control study at a single (cross-sectional) time point of patients diagnosed with unilateral Achilles tendon disorders and asymptomatic group.
A sample of 50 participants will be included, 25 participants with symptomatic unilateral Achilles tendon disorders (symptomatic group), with the asymptomatic side of this group used as controls (control group 1). A third group of 25 participants with asymptomatic Achilles tendon (control group 2). using MyotonPRO.
Natural frequency of vibration (F)
Dynamic stiffness (S)
Mechanical stress relaxation time (R)
Logarithmic damping rate (D)
Creep (C)
and other mechanical stiffness parameters were evaluated.
Measurements on the medial and lateral gastrocnemius muscles were performed as non-weight bearing (NWB) and weight bearing (WB).
The results showed that
Natural frequency of vibration (F)
Dynamic stiffness (S)
Creep (C)
A significant difference was observed between the mean symptomatic group and control groups 1 and 2 in the WB and NWB conditions for
The SWB of the symptomatic group NWB decreased significantly, and conversely, S increased significantly.
Creep (C) and mechanical stress relaxation time (R) were significantly less in the symptomatic group NWB.
A significant difference was observed between the NWB and WB data sets for logarithmic decay rate (D).
The NWB D had a significantly higher score than the WB condition.
The conclusion is that the gastrocnemius muscle of people with Achilles tendon of disability is soft and tender even when the muscle contracts.
Discussion
In another study.
In another study, the elasticity of the gastrocnemius muscle did not change in an experiment of postural sway and muscle tension.
There is no difference in the stiffness of the gastrocnemius between unstable and stable conditions.
There is no difference in stiffness of the gastrocnemius between unstable and stable conditions.In addition, an experiment comparing plyometric and isometric training of the gastrocnemius and Achilles tendons showed that
In plyometric training, muscle stiffness increased.
No change in muscle stiffness in isometric training
Therefore, if isometric training is used to rehabilitate the Achilles tendon only, the gastrocnemius muscle may not be considered as a target.
If we take into account the studies mentioned above and the examples of patellar tendon disorders, it is possible that excitatory responses are occurring in the corticospinal tract.
It was suggested that these changes in the corticospinal tract are involved in muscle protection and load reduction activities.
Morgan G, Martin R, Welch H, Williams L, Morris K. Objective assessment of stiffness in the gastrocnemius muscle in patients with symptomatic Achilles tendons. tendons. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2019;5(1):e000622. published 2019 Oct 18. doi:10.1136/bmjsem-2019-000622
Conclusion
I wondered if anyone looks at this level of detail in clinical practice. I wondered about this, but it was something that people who want to make detailed data by various testing instruments should check out.
If not, but if you simply want to apply it to your clinical practice, I hope you now know what approach is appropriate for gastrocnemius muscle that is experiencing tendon disorders.There are some things that massage can't solve.
