UNLABELLED The optimal postoperative rehabilitation protocol after surgical repair of an Achilles tendon rupture is unknown. Although a 6-week cast immobilization is common, many early functional rehabilitation protocols have been implemented. The purpose of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis to determine if an early functional protocol for surgical repair of an acute Achilles tendon rup...

Introduction: Achilles tendon ruptures, whether operated or not, are mostly treated with long periods of immobilization. However, accumulating data show that prolonged immobilization is associated with impaired tissue repair including reduced biomechanical properties of the healing tendon. Prolonged immobilization leads to reduced blood flow and hampers the neuro-vascular ingrowth post-rupture ...

[Purpose] Changes in oxidative stress severity and antioxidant potential are routinely used as oxidative stress markers. While several studies have reported the relationship between these markers and exercise, little is known about the dynamic nature of these markers during muscle atrophy and reloading. Therefore, we examined changes in oxidative stress severity and antioxidant potential during...

INTRODUCTION Total subtalar dislocation without fracture of the ankle is a rare clinical entity; it is usually due to a traumatic high-energy mechanism. Standard treatment is successful closed reduction under general anesthesia followed by non-weight bearing and ankle immobilization with a below-knee cast for 6 weeks. CASE PRESENTATION We present the case of a 30-year-old Moroccan woman who w...

The present study was undertaken to explore the effects of creatine and creatine plus protein supplementation on GLUT-4 and glycogen content of human skeletal muscle. This was investigated in muscles undergoing a decrease (immobilization) and subsequent increase (resistance training) in activity level, compared with muscles with unaltered activity pattern. A double-blind, placebo-controlled tri...

Several meta-analyses comparing early functional rehabilitation and traditional immobilization following surgical Achilles tendon repair after acute rupture have been published. However, they have led to conflicting conclusions. The aims of this systematic review were to select high-quality meta-analyses from multiple discordant meta-analyses and to provide a postoperative rehabilitation strate...

This study examined the effects of therapeutic pulsed ultrasound (US) on the development of disuse muscle atrophy in rat gastrocnemius muscle. Male Wistar rats were randomly distributed into control, immobilization (Im), sham US, and US groups. In the Im, sham US and US groups, the bilateral ankle joints of each rat were immobilized in full plantar flexion with a plaster cast for a 4-wk period....

Chukuka S. Enwemeka, P.T., Ph.D., FACSM, G. Kesava Reddy, Ph.D., Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160-7601, USA Connective tissue injuries, such as tendon rupture and ligamentous strains, are common. Unlike most soft tissues that require 7-10 days to heal, primary healing of tendons and other dense connective tiss...

Connective tissue injuries, such as tendon rupture and ligamentous strains, are common. Unlike most soft tissues that require 7-10 days to heal, primary healing of tendons and other dense connective tissues take as much as 6 8 weeks during which they are inevitably protected in immobilization casts to avoid re-injury. Such long periods of immobilization impair functional rehabilitation and pred...