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Int J Sports Med 2010; 31(12): 901-905
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1267159
Clinical Sciences

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Blood Flow of the Achilles Tendon During Military Training

N. Mahieu1 , D. Van Tiggelen2 , M. De Muynck3 , M. Dumalin4 , E. Witvrouw1
  • 1Ghent University, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Ghent, Belgium
  • 2Military Hospital of Base Queen Astrid, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Brussels, Belgium
  • 3Ghent University, Department of Physical Medicine and Orthopaedic Surgery, Ghent, Belgium
  • 4Royal Military Academy, Medical Department, Brussels, Belgium
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision August 30, 2010

Publication Date:
11 November 2010 (online)

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the vascular response of the Achilles tendon as indicated by power Doppler activity during a military training program of 6 weeks. 49 male military recruits (98 tendons) volunteered for this study. Before and during the military training program, the Achilles tendons were screened with gray-scale ultrasonography and power Doppler US. Reactive tendinopathies of the Achilles tendons were registered by means of a clinical examination, VAS-scores and VISA-A scores. The US examination, the clinical examination, VAS-scores and VISA-A scores showed that 13/98 tendons developed a reactive tendinopathy. 3 of these 13 symptomatic tendons showed intratendinous Doppler activity. In these tendons, pain was always present before the vascular response of the Achilles tendon. Both pain and hypervascularisation remained visible till the end of the basic military training. In 5 asymptomatic tendons with no structural changes of the tendon, a vascular response was seen during one single measurement. It can be hypothesized that there is no relationship between the vascular response of the Achilles tendon and the pain in a reactive tendinopathy. In a reactive tendinopathy, other pain mechanisms must be investigated in future research.

Key words

tendinopathy - hypervascularisation - overuse

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Correspondence

Dr. Nele Mahieu

Ghent University

Department of Rehabilitation

Sciences and Physiotherapy

De Pintelaan 185, 3B3

9000 Ghent

Belgium

Phone: +32/9/332 37 68

Fax: +32/9/332 38 11

Email: Nele.Mahieu@Ugent.be

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