Which Physical Activity Influences Achilles Tendon Blood Flow the Most?

University Ghent

Status: Completed

Conditions: Physical Activity

Treatments: Other: physical activity

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03218605

2013/401

Details and patient eligibility

About

Previous studies have shown that a decreased blood flow is a risk factor in the occurrence of Achilles tendon (AT) injuries. Based on the current literature, no consensus was reached as to the most solid warming-up of the AT. Therefore, knowledge about activities which increase blood flow in the AT could be useful in the development of a solid warming-up programme for the AT. The aim of this investigation was to define the influence of different kinds of physical activity on the vascularisation of the AT in a healthy asymptomatic population. Subjects performed five activities in randomized order: running, static stretch, dynamic stretch, cycling and rope skipping. The vascularisation of the AT of the dominant limb was measured with the non-invasive oxygen-to-see (O2C) device. Blood flow was measured before, immediately after, five and ten minutes after activity to investigate the duration of the vascular response to activity.

Enrollment: 60 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 60 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• no history of Achilles tendon complaints
• healthy and active adolescents

Exclusion criteria

• history of Achilles tendon pain or current complaints
• not healthy or not active population
• children

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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60 participants in 1 patient group

healthy active participants

Experimental group

Treatment:

Other: physical activity