Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate changes in elasticity, blood volume, and oxygen saturation of tendon caused by repeat contractions of different durations. Eight male subjects performed endurance tests, which consisted of isometric plantar flexion with two different durations: a shorter contraction (SC) and a longer contraction (LC). During endurance tests and a recovery period, we measured the total hemoglobin (THb) and oxygen saturation (StO2) of the medial gastrocnemius muscle and Achilles tendon using near infrared spectroscopy and red laser lights. In addition, elongation of the Achilles tendon during the endurance test was measured via ultrasonography. Compared to the resting level, the THb and StO2 of the tendon increased significantly after SC, but not after LC. On the other hand, Achilles tendon became more compliant after LC, but not after SC. These results suggested that duration of contraction affected not only elasticity, but also blood volume and oxygen saturation of tendons.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Astrom M, Westlin N (1994) Blood flow in the human Achilles tendon assessed by laser Doppler flowmetry. J Orthop Res 12:246–252. doi:10.1002/jor.1100120214
Boesen MI, Koenig MJ, Torp-Pedersen S, Bliddal H, Langberg H (2006) Tendinopathy and Doppler activity: the vascular response of the Achilles tendon to exercise. Scand J Med Sci Sports 16:463–469. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0838.2005.00512.x
Boushel R, Piantadosi CA (2000) Near-infrared spectroscopy for monitoring muscle oxygenation. Acta Physiol Scand 168:615–622. doi:10.1046/j.1365-201x.2000.00713.x
Boushel R, Langberg H, Green S, Skovgaard D, Bulow J, Kjaer M (2000) Blood flow and oxygenation in peritendinous tissue and calf muscle during dynamic exercise in humans. J Physiol 524:305–313. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7793.2000.t01-2-00305.x
Campbell J, Lawton JO (1993) Spontaneous rupture of the Achilles tendon: pathology and management. Br J Hosp Med 50:321–325
Carr AJ, Norris SH (1989) The blood supply of the calcaneal tendon. J Bone Joint Surg Br 71B:100–101
Chance B, Dait MT, Zhang C, Hamaoka T, Hagerman F (1992) Recovery from exercise-induced desaturation in the quadriceps muscles of elite competitive rowers. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 262:C766–C775
Hooley CJ, McCrum NG, Cohen RE (1980) The viscoelastic deformation of tendon. J Biomech 13:521–528. doi:10.1016/0021-9290(80)90345-0
Hooper G, Davies R, Tothill P (1984) Blood flow and clearance in tendons: studies with dogs. J Bone Joint Surg Br 66:441–443
Kashima S (2003) Spectroscopic measurement of blood volume and its oxygenation in a small volume of tissue using red laser lights and differential calculation between two point detections. Opt Laser Technol 35:485–489. doi:10.1016/S0030-3992(03)00066-5
Kawakami Y, Amemiya K, Kanehisa H, Ikegawa S, Fukunaga T (2000) Fatigue responses of human triceps surae muscles during repetitive maximal isometric contractions. J Appl Physiol 88:1969–1975
Kjaer M, Langberg H, Miller BF, Boushel R, Crameri R, Koskinen S, Heinemeier K, Olesen JL, Dossing S, Hansen M, Pederson SG, Rennie MJ, Magnusson P (2005) Metabolic activity and collagen turnover in human tendon in response to physical activity. J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact 5:41–52
Klein MB, Pham H, Yalamanchi N, Chang J (2001) Flexor tendon wound healing in vitro: the effects of lactate on tendon cell proliferation and collagen production. J Hand Surg Am 26:847–854. doi:10.1053/jhsu.2001.26185
Kongsgaard M, Aagaard P, Kjaer M, Magnusson SP (2005) Structural Achilles tendon properties in athletes subjected to different exercise modes and in Achilles tendon rupture patients. J Appl Physiol 99:1965–1971. doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00384.2005
Kubo K, Kanehisa H, Kawakami Y, Fukunaga T (2000) Elasticity of tendon structures of lower limbs in sprinters. Acta Physiol Scand 168:327–335. doi:10.1046/j.1365-201x.2000.00653.x
Kubo K, Kanehisa H, Fukunaga T (2001a) Effects of different duration isometric contractions on tendon elasticity in human quadriceps muscles. J Physiol 536:649–655. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7793.2001.0649c.xd
Kubo K, Kanehisa H, Kawakami Y, Fukunaga T (2001b) Influences of repetitive muscle contractions with different modes on the elasticity of tendon structures in vivo. J Appl Physiol 91:277–282
Kubo K, Kanehisa H, Fukunaga T (2005) Influences of repetitive drop-jump and isometric leg press exercises on the tendon properties in knee extensors. J Strength Cond Res 19:864–870. doi:10.1519/R-16444.1
Kubo K, Ohgo K, Takeishi R, Yoshinaga K, Tsunoda N, Kanehisa H, Fukunaga T (2006) Effects of isometric training at different knee angles on the muscle-tendon complex in vivo. Scand J Med Sci Sports 16:159–167. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0838.2005.00450.x
Kubo K, Morimoto M, Komuro T, Yata H, Tsunoda N, Kanehisa H, Fukunaga T (2007) Effects of plyometric and weight training on muscle-tendon complex and jump performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc 39:1801–1810. doi:10.1249/01.mss.0000247006.24965.74
Kubo K, Ikebukuro T, Tsunoda N, Kanehisa H (2008a) Changes in oxygen consumption of human muscle and tendon following repeat muscle contractions. Eur J Appl Physiol 104:859–866. doi:10.1007/s00421-008-0841-4
Kubo K, Ikebukuro T, Tsunoda N, Kanehisa H (2008b) Noninvasive measures of blood volume and oxygen saturation of human Achilles tendon by red laser lights. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 193:257–264. doi:10.1111/j.1748-1716.2008.01841.x
Kubo K, Ikebukuro T, Yaeshima K, Yata H, Tsunoda N, Kanehisa H (2009) Effects of static and dynamic training on the stiffness and blood volume of tendon in vivo. J Appl Physiol 106:412–417. doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.91381.2008
Langberg H, Bulow J, Kjaer M (1998) Blood flow in the peritendinous space of the human Achilles tendon during exercise. Acta Physiol Scand 163:149–153. doi:10.1046/j.1365-201X.1998.00361.x
Langberg H, Bulow J, Kjaer M (1999a) Standardized intermittent static exercise increases peritendinous blood flow in human leg. Clin Physiol 19:89–93. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2281.1999.00148.x
Langberg H, Skovgaard D, Bulow J, Kjaer M (1999b) Negative interstitial pressure in the peritendinous region during exercise. J Appl Physiol 87:999–1002
Langberg H, Skovgaard D, Petersen LJ, Bulow J, Kjaer M (1999c) Type I collagen synthesis and degradation in peritendinous tissue after exercise determined by microdialysis in humans. J Physiol 521:299–306. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7793.1999.00299.x
Langberg H, Olesen J, Skovgaard D, Kjaer M (2001) Age related blood flow around the Achilles tendon during exercise in humans. Eur J Appl Physiol 84:246–248. doi:10.1007/s004210170013
Maganaris CN, Baltzopoulos V, Sargeant AJ (2002) Repeated contractions alter the geometry of human skeletal muscle. J Appl Physiol 93:2089–2094
Magnusson SP, Aagaard P, Rosager S, Poulsen PD, Kjaer M (2001) Load-displacement properties of the human triceps surae aponeurosis in vivo. J Physiol 531:277–288. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7793.2001.0277j.x
McFarland EG, Morrey BF, An KN (1986) The relationship of vascularity and water content to tensile strength in a patellar tendon replacement of the anterior cruciate in dogs. Am J Sports Med 14:436–448. doi:10.1177/036354658601400602
Ohberg L, Lorentzon R, Alfredson H (2001) Meovascularisation in Achilles tendons with painful tendinosis but not in normal tendons: an ultrasonographic investigation. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 9:233–238. doi:10.1007/s001670000189
Peacock EE Jr (1959) A study of the circulation in normal tendons and healing grafts. Ann Surg 149:415–428
Reeves ND, Maganaris CN, Narici MV (2003) Effect of strength training on human patella tendon mechanical properties of older individuals. J Physiol 548:971–981. doi:10.1113/jphysiol.2002.035576
Rosager S, Aagaard P, Dyhre-Poulsen P, Neergaard K, Kjaer M, Magnusson SP (2002) Load-displacement properties of the human triceps surae aponeurosis and tendon in runners and non-runners. Scand J Med Sci Sports 12:90–98. doi:10.1034/j.1600-0838.2002.120205.x
Simonsen EB, Klitgaard H, Bojsen-Moller F (1995) The influence of strength training, swim training and aging on the Achilles tendon and m. soleus of the rat. J Sports Sci 13:291–295. doi:10.1080/02640419508732242
Schott J, McCully K, Rutherford OM (1995) The role of metabolites in strength training II. Short versus long isometric contractions. Eur J Appl Physiol 71:337–341. doi:10.1007/BF00240414
Terslev L, Qvistgaard E, Torp-Pederson S, Laetgaard J, Danneskiold-Samsoe B, Bliddal H (2001) Ultrasound and power Doppler findings in jumper’s knee-preliminary observations. Eur J Ultrasound 13:183–189. doi:10.1016/S0929-8266(01)00130-6
Woo SL, Gomez MA, Amiel D, Ritter MA, Gelberman RH, Akeson WH (1981) The effects of exercise on the biomechanical and biochemical properties of swine digital flexor tendons. J Biomech Eng 103:51–56
Yalamanchi N, Klein MB, Pham HM, Longaker MT, Chang J (2004) Flexor tendon wound healing in vitro: lactate up-regulation of TGF-ß expression and functional activity. Plast Reconstr Surg 113:625–632. doi:10.1097/01.PRS.0000101529.47062.34
Yanagisawa O, Niitsu M, Yoshioka H, Goto K, Itai Y (2003) MRI determination of muscle recruitment variations in dynamic ankle plantar flexion exercise. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 82:760–765. doi:10.1097/01.PHM.0000087460.38514.E7
Zantop T, Tillmann B, Petersen W (2003) Quantitative assessment of blood vessels of the human Achilles tendon: an immunohistochemical cadaver study. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 123:501–504. doi:10.1007/s00402-003-0491-2
Acknowledgments
This study was supported by the Uehara Memorial Foundation and a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A-18680046 to K. Kubo) from Japan Society for Promotion of Science. We thank Dr. Kashima S, Mr. Gotoda Y (Omega Wave), and Mr. Akasaki F (Applied Office) for their advice.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kubo, K., Ikebukuro, T., Yaeshima, K. et al. Effects of different duration contractions on elasticity, blood volume, and oxygen saturation of human tendon in vivo. Eur J Appl Physiol 106, 445–455 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-009-1037-2
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-009-1037-2