Article

OBJECTIVES: To compare the neuromechanical and functional characteristics of the
legs of athletes who underwent unilateral Achilles' tendon repair and their
controls, and to determine any correlation between the characteristics. DESIGN: A
case-control and cross-sectional study. SETTING: A university institute.
PARTICIPANTS: Male athletes (N=33) were recruited; 23 in the >/=3- and <12-month
postsurgical group (median age, 29.8y; age range, 21.9-40.0y) and 10 in the
control group (median age, 30.0y; age range, 21.1-39.5y) who had not undergone
any surgery. INTERVENTION: Surgical Achilles' tendon repair in the study group.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Bilateral measurements of activation strategy involving
the triceps surae and tibialis anterior muscles, mechanical properties of the
Achilles' tendon, and explosive performance tests were conducted. RESULTS:
Compared with the noninjured legs and the control legs, the repaired legs showed
lower normalized rates of electromyographic rise (RER) in the soleus,
gastrocnemius medialis, and gastrocnemius lateralis (P ranged between .006 and
.001); and less tendon stiffness, greater hysteresis, and less rates of force
development (RFD) (P ranged between .006 and <.001). Repaired legs had less ankle
dorsiflexion, a shorter 1-leg hopping distance, and lower balance scores
(P</=.001). The noninjured legs of the athletes who underwent surgical Achilles'
tendon repair had a lower normalized RER (0-50 ms) in the soleus and lateral
gastrocnemius when compared with the legs of the healthy controls (P=.011). The
neuromechanical outcomes and explosive performances showed correlations with RFD,
1-leg hopping distance, and balance score. CONCLUSIONS: The athletes who
underwent unilateral Achilles' tendon repair demonstrated bilateral
neuromechanical deficits within the 1-year postsurgical period.
CI - Copyright (c) 2013 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS