PubMed · 5852021
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H Deschamps, H Bricaire. 1965. [The Achilles reflexogram].. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/5852021/
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To determine whether the echo time of magnetic resonance gradient-echo and spin-echo imaging sequences may be important for the occurrence of high signal strength from tendon with pathological alterations, imaging sequences with sufficient spatial resolution and very short echo times were developed for whole-body imagers with standard gradient system. The sequences were applied on the Achilles tendons of five healthy volunteers and seven patients with achillodynia. Some affected regions inside tendon, probably corresponding with tissue with subtle edema in the collagen bundles were only revealed in images recorded with very short echo times TE < 5 ms, whereas stronger affections and protons in liquids between the fiber bundles were also shown in images with longer echo times TE > 10 ms. Gradient-echo methods allow shorter echo times than spin-echo techniques for a given gradient system of the imager and given spatial resolution. So minimum echo time gradient-echo sequences should be used for sensitive imaging of tendon alterations, because no considerable signal dephasing due to susceptibility effects were found in tendon.
267 normal controls of different ages underwent achilles tendon thickness measurements by ultrasonography (US) for reference. 96 recruits and 10 young women additionally underwent magnetic resonance imaging of the achilles tendons and calves for more systematic evaluation of the factors influencing tendon thickness. Children under 10 had a tendon thickness (mean +/- SD) of 4.6 +/- 0.8 mm, 10-17 year-olds 6.1 +/- 0.8 mm, 18-30 year-olds 6.3 +/- 0.5 mm and over 30 year-olds 6.9 +/- 1.0 mm. Women had slightly thinner tendons than men, but the difference was statistically significant only in the oldest age group. Normal variation in shape of the tendon caused up to a 25% variation in the measured thickness values. In the large sample of recruits a statistically significant correlation was found between the tendon thickness and body height. Differences in population height could account for the measured differences in normal achilles tendon thickness found in studies on Japanese subjects compared with studies on European and American subjects.
Different age groups of male Wistar rates were submitted to intense strength training, swim training or no training. It was found that the tetanic of the m. soleus decreased with age. This was counteracted by strength training, whereas swim training had no effect on tetanic tension. Force at ultimate failure and yield point in the Achilles tendon decreased with age, but were not influenced by strength training. Swim training, on the other hand, appeared to compensate for the ageing process in the tendon. We conclude that tendon strength decreases with age and that tendon strength does not reflect muscle strength. The absolute tensile strength of tendons appears to be influenced by physical activity of endurance-type exercise. However, it is not known whether the tissue responds to the number of mechanical muscle contractions or physiological factors connected with endurance training. Although it is questionable to extrapolate from the rat to humans, it is speculated that intensive muscle strength training should be accompanied by endurance exercise in order to prevent the muscles from damaging connective tissue structures, such as the tendons and ligaments.