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Acute sensory and motor response to 45-s heavy isometric holds for the plantar flexors in patients with Achilles tendinopathy

PainSci » bibliography » O’Neill et al 2018
updated
Tags: treatment, foot, Achilles tendinitis, strength, sports, rehab, bad news, tendinosis, leg, limbs, pain problems, exercise, self-treatment, injury, overuse injury

Two pages on PainSci cite O’Neill 2018: 1. Tennis Elbow Guide2. Achilles Tendinitis Treatment Science

PainSci notes on O’Neill 2018:

This is a tiny “exploratory” trial of the short term effects of plantar flexor contraction for Achilles tendinitis. Specifically, intense isometric contraction: just holding a heavy load without moving. And where did this exploration lead? To a dead end: the effects were varied and there was no clear benefit, for whatever it’s worth from a tiny test of just 16 people (it’s worth something, just not a lot). The authors conclude: “heavy 45-s isometric contractions cannot be recommended for immediate pain relief or improved motor output.”

original abstract Abstracts here may not perfectly match originals, for a variety of technical and practical reasons. Some abstacts are truncated for my purposes here, if they are particularly long-winded and unhelpful. I occasionally add clarifying notes. And I make some minor corrections.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the immediate effects of heavy isometric plantar flexor exercise on sensory output (pain during a functional task and mechanical pain sensitivity) and motor output (plantar flexor torque) in individuals with Achilles tendinopathy.

METHODS: Sixteen subjects with Achilles tendinopathy participated in the study, mean (SD) age 48.6 (8.9) years and Victorian institute assessment-Achilles (VISA-A) score 61.3 (23.0). Sensory testing assessing pain during a functional task, mechanical pain sensitivity and motor output, and plantar flexor peak torque was completed prior to the intervention. All subjects completed a 45-s heavy isometric plantar flexor contraction and were then re-tested using the same sensory and motor tests. Motor output was assessed using isokinetic dynamometry at speeds previously identified as of interest in subjects with Achilles tendinopathy.

RESULTS: Only 9 of the 16 subjects experienced pain during a functional task, self-reported pain was 4.2 (1.9) numerical rating scale (NRS) pre-intervention and 4.9 (3.2) NRS postintervention (n.s.). Mechanical pressure sensitivity was 446.5 (±248.5) g/mm2 pre-intervention and 411.8 (±211.8) g/mm2 post-intervention (n.s.). Mean concentric plantar flexor torque at 90 and 225°/s was 47.1 (14.5) and 33.6 (11.6) Nm, respectively, pre-intervention and 53.0 (18.5) and 33.4 (6.6) Nm post-intervention (p=0.039 and n.s.). Eccentric torque at 90°/s was 98.5 (34.2) Nm preintervention versus 106.0 (41.4) Nm post-intervention (n.s.).

CONCLUSION: In this exploratory study, patients with Achilles tendinopathy had a varied sensory and motor output response to heavy isometric contractions. Using the recommended approach of heavy 45-s isometric contractions did not offer a meaningful acute benefit for sensory or motor output for subjects with Achilles tendinopathy. Based on this study, heavy 45-second isometric contractions cannot be recommended for immediate pain relief or improved motor output for patients with Achilles tendinopathy.

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