The acute response of tendon to loading: implications for rehabilitation
2011
The Effect of Loading on Achilles Tendon Response
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Scott C Wearing, Nicole L Grigg, Sue L Hooper, Erin E Appleton, James E Smeathers
Primary Institution: Bond University
Hypothesis
What is the acute response of the Achilles tendon to different loading exercises?
Conclusion
Heavy eccentric loading exercises significantly decrease Achilles tendon thickness, which recovers within 24 hours.
Supporting Evidence
- Heavy eccentric loading of the Achilles tendon may be an effective conservative treatment for tendinopathy.
- Success rates of 60–80% for eccentric loading treatments have been reported.
- Eccentric exercise resulted in a greater reduction in tendon thickness compared to concentric exercise.
Takeaway
When you exercise your Achilles tendon with heavy weights, it gets thinner right away, but it gets back to normal in about a day.
Methodology
Experiments evaluated the effect of various strain stimuli on the time-dependent response of human Achilles tendon in vivo.
Statistical Information
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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