Skip to main content
Top
Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 1/2013

Open Access 01-12-2013 | Research article

Uphill treadmill running does not induce histopathological changes in the rat Achilles tendon

Authors: Rachel C Dirks, Jeffrey S Richard, Angela M Fearon, Alexander Scott, Lauren G Koch, Steven L Britton, Stuart J Warden

Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders | Issue 1/2013

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether uphill treadmill running in rats created histopathological changes within the Achilles tendon consistent with Achilles tendinosis in humans.

Methods

Twenty-six mature rats selectively bred for high-capacity running were divided into run and cage control groups. Run group rats ran on a treadmill at a 15° incline for a maximum duration of 1 hr/d, 5 d/wk for 9 weeks at increasing speeds, while rats in the cage control group maintained normal cage activity. After 9 weeks, Achilles tendons were harvested for histological processing and semi-quantitative histopathological analysis.

Results

There were no significant group differences within each of the individual histopathological categories assessed (all p ≥ 0.16) or for total histopathological score (p = 0.14).

Conclusions

Uphill treadmill running in rats selectively bred for high-capacity running did not generate Achilles tendon changes consistent with the histopathological presentation of Achilles tendinosis in humans.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
go back to reference Kannus P: Etiology and pathophysiology of chronic tendon disorders in sports. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 1997, 7: 78-85.CrossRefPubMed Kannus P: Etiology and pathophysiology of chronic tendon disorders in sports. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 1997, 7: 78-85.CrossRefPubMed
2.
go back to reference Kujala UM, Sarna S, Kaprio J: Cumulative incidence of achilles tendon rupture and tendinopathy in male former elite athletes. Clin J Sport Med. 2005, 15: 133-135. 10.1097/01.jsm.0000165347.55638.23.CrossRefPubMed Kujala UM, Sarna S, Kaprio J: Cumulative incidence of achilles tendon rupture and tendinopathy in male former elite athletes. Clin J Sport Med. 2005, 15: 133-135. 10.1097/01.jsm.0000165347.55638.23.CrossRefPubMed
3.
go back to reference Suchak AA, Bostick G, Reid D, Blitz S, Jomha N: The incidence of Achilles tendon ruptures in Edmonton, Canada. Foot Ankle Int. 2005, 26: 932-936.PubMed Suchak AA, Bostick G, Reid D, Blitz S, Jomha N: The incidence of Achilles tendon ruptures in Edmonton, Canada. Foot Ankle Int. 2005, 26: 932-936.PubMed
4.
go back to reference Milgrom C, Finestone A, Zin D, Mandel D, Novack V: Cold weather training: a risk factor for Achilles paratendinitis among recruits. Foot Ankle Int. 2003, 24: 398-401.PubMed Milgrom C, Finestone A, Zin D, Mandel D, Novack V: Cold weather training: a risk factor for Achilles paratendinitis among recruits. Foot Ankle Int. 2003, 24: 398-401.PubMed
5.
go back to reference Almeida SA, Williams KM, Shaffer RA, Brodine SK: Epidemiological patterns of musculoskeletal injuries and physical training. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1999, 31: 1176-1182. 10.1097/00005768-199908000-00015.CrossRefPubMed Almeida SA, Williams KM, Shaffer RA, Brodine SK: Epidemiological patterns of musculoskeletal injuries and physical training. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1999, 31: 1176-1182. 10.1097/00005768-199908000-00015.CrossRefPubMed
6.
go back to reference Puddu G, Ippolito E, Postacchini F: A classification of Achilles tendon disease. Am J Sports Med. 1976, 4: 145-150. 10.1177/036354657600400404.CrossRefPubMed Puddu G, Ippolito E, Postacchini F: A classification of Achilles tendon disease. Am J Sports Med. 1976, 4: 145-150. 10.1177/036354657600400404.CrossRefPubMed
7.
go back to reference Kannus P, Jozsa L: Histopathological changes preceding spontaneous rupture of a tendon. A controlled study of 891 patients. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1991, 73: 1507-1525.PubMed Kannus P, Jozsa L: Histopathological changes preceding spontaneous rupture of a tendon. A controlled study of 891 patients. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1991, 73: 1507-1525.PubMed
8.
go back to reference Khan KM, Cook JL, Bonar F, Harcourt P, Astrom M: Histopathology of common tendinopathies. Update and implications for clinical management. Sports Med. 1999, 27: 393-408. 10.2165/00007256-199927060-00004.CrossRefPubMed Khan KM, Cook JL, Bonar F, Harcourt P, Astrom M: Histopathology of common tendinopathies. Update and implications for clinical management. Sports Med. 1999, 27: 393-408. 10.2165/00007256-199927060-00004.CrossRefPubMed
9.
go back to reference Soslowsky LJ, Thomopoulos S, Tun S, Flanagan CL, Keefer CC, Mastaw J, Carpenter JE: Neer Award, Overuse activity injures the supraspinatus tendon in an animal model: a histologic and biomechanical study. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 1999, 2000 (9): 79-84. Soslowsky LJ, Thomopoulos S, Tun S, Flanagan CL, Keefer CC, Mastaw J, Carpenter JE: Neer Award, Overuse activity injures the supraspinatus tendon in an animal model: a histologic and biomechanical study. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 1999, 2000 (9): 79-84.
10.
go back to reference Abraham T, Fong G, Scott A: Second harmonic generation analysis of early Achilles tendinosis in response to in vivo mechanical loading. BMC Musculoskel Disord. 2011, 12: 26-10.1186/1471-2474-12-26.CrossRef Abraham T, Fong G, Scott A: Second harmonic generation analysis of early Achilles tendinosis in response to in vivo mechanical loading. BMC Musculoskel Disord. 2011, 12: 26-10.1186/1471-2474-12-26.CrossRef
11.
go back to reference Glazebrook MA, Wright JR, Langman M, Stanish WD, Lee JM: Histological analysis of achilles tendons in an overuse rat model. J Orthop Res. 2008, 26: 840-846. 10.1002/jor.20546.CrossRefPubMed Glazebrook MA, Wright JR, Langman M, Stanish WD, Lee JM: Histological analysis of achilles tendons in an overuse rat model. J Orthop Res. 2008, 26: 840-846. 10.1002/jor.20546.CrossRefPubMed
12.
go back to reference Heinemeier KM, Skovgaard D, Bayer ML, Qvortrup K, Kjaer A, Kjaer M, Magnusson SP, Kongsgaard M: Uphill running improves rat Achilles tendon tissue mechanical properties and alters gene expression without inducing pathological changes. J Appl Physiol. 2012, 113: 827-836. 10.1152/japplphysiol.00401.2012.CrossRefPubMed Heinemeier KM, Skovgaard D, Bayer ML, Qvortrup K, Kjaer A, Kjaer M, Magnusson SP, Kongsgaard M: Uphill running improves rat Achilles tendon tissue mechanical properties and alters gene expression without inducing pathological changes. J Appl Physiol. 2012, 113: 827-836. 10.1152/japplphysiol.00401.2012.CrossRefPubMed
13.
go back to reference Huang TF, Perry SM, Soslowsky LJ: The effect of overuse activity on Achilles tendon in an animal model: a biomechanical study. Ann Biomed Eng. 2004, 32: 336-341.CrossRefPubMed Huang TF, Perry SM, Soslowsky LJ: The effect of overuse activity on Achilles tendon in an animal model: a biomechanical study. Ann Biomed Eng. 2004, 32: 336-341.CrossRefPubMed
14.
go back to reference Ng GY, Chung PY, Wang JS, Cheung RT: Enforced bipedal downhill running induces Achilles tendinosis in rats. Connect Tissue Res. 2011, 52: 466-471. 10.3109/03008207.2011.562334.CrossRefPubMed Ng GY, Chung PY, Wang JS, Cheung RT: Enforced bipedal downhill running induces Achilles tendinosis in rats. Connect Tissue Res. 2011, 52: 466-471. 10.3109/03008207.2011.562334.CrossRefPubMed
15.
go back to reference Silva RD, Glazebrook MA, Campos VC, Vasconcelos AC: Achilles tendinosis: a morphometrical study in a rat model. Int J Clin Exp Pathol. 2011, 4: 683-691.PubMedPubMedCentral Silva RD, Glazebrook MA, Campos VC, Vasconcelos AC: Achilles tendinosis: a morphometrical study in a rat model. Int J Clin Exp Pathol. 2011, 4: 683-691.PubMedPubMedCentral
16.
go back to reference Lammers AR, Earls KD, Biknevicius AR: Locomotor kinetics and kinematics on inclines and declines in the gray short-tailed opossum Monodelphis domestica. J Exp Biol. 2006, 209: 4154-4166. 10.1242/jeb.02493.CrossRefPubMed Lammers AR, Earls KD, Biknevicius AR: Locomotor kinetics and kinematics on inclines and declines in the gray short-tailed opossum Monodelphis domestica. J Exp Biol. 2006, 209: 4154-4166. 10.1242/jeb.02493.CrossRefPubMed
17.
go back to reference Koch LG, Britton SL: Artificial selection for intrinsic aerobic endurance running capacity in rats. Physiol Genomics. 2001, 5: 45-52.PubMed Koch LG, Britton SL: Artificial selection for intrinsic aerobic endurance running capacity in rats. Physiol Genomics. 2001, 5: 45-52.PubMed
18.
go back to reference Cook JL, Feller JA, Bonar SF, Khan KM: Abnormal tenocyte morphology is more prevalent than collagen disruption in asymptomatic athletes’ patellar tendons. J Orthop Res. 2004, 22: 334-338. 10.1016/j.orthres.2003.08.005.CrossRefPubMed Cook JL, Feller JA, Bonar SF, Khan KM: Abnormal tenocyte morphology is more prevalent than collagen disruption in asymptomatic athletes’ patellar tendons. J Orthop Res. 2004, 22: 334-338. 10.1016/j.orthres.2003.08.005.CrossRefPubMed
19.
go back to reference Scott A, Cook JL, Hart DA, Walker DC, Duronio V, Khan KM: Tenocyte responses to mechanical loading in vivo: a role for local insulin-like growth factor 1 signaling in early tendinosis in rats. Arthritis Rheum. 2007, 56: 871-881. 10.1002/art.22426.CrossRefPubMed Scott A, Cook JL, Hart DA, Walker DC, Duronio V, Khan KM: Tenocyte responses to mechanical loading in vivo: a role for local insulin-like growth factor 1 signaling in early tendinosis in rats. Arthritis Rheum. 2007, 56: 871-881. 10.1002/art.22426.CrossRefPubMed
20.
go back to reference Maffulli N, Barrass V, Ewen SW: Light microscopic histology of achilles tendon ruptures. A comparison with unruptured tendons. Am J Sports Med. 2000, 28: 857-863.PubMed Maffulli N, Barrass V, Ewen SW: Light microscopic histology of achilles tendon ruptures. A comparison with unruptured tendons. Am J Sports Med. 2000, 28: 857-863.PubMed
21.
go back to reference Maffulli N, Testa V, Capasso G, Ewen SW, Sullo A, Benazzo F, King JB: Similar histopathological picture in males with Achilles and patellar tendinopathy. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2004, 36: 1470-1475. 10.1249/01.MSS.0000139895.94846.8D.CrossRefPubMed Maffulli N, Testa V, Capasso G, Ewen SW, Sullo A, Benazzo F, King JB: Similar histopathological picture in males with Achilles and patellar tendinopathy. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2004, 36: 1470-1475. 10.1249/01.MSS.0000139895.94846.8D.CrossRefPubMed
22.
go back to reference Movin T, Gad A, Reinholt FP, Rolf C: Tendon pathology in long-standing achillodynia. Biopsy findings in 40 patients. Acta Orthop Scand. 1997, 68: 170-175. 10.3109/17453679709004002.CrossRefPubMed Movin T, Gad A, Reinholt FP, Rolf C: Tendon pathology in long-standing achillodynia. Biopsy findings in 40 patients. Acta Orthop Scand. 1997, 68: 170-175. 10.3109/17453679709004002.CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
Uphill treadmill running does not induce histopathological changes in the rat Achilles tendon
Authors
Rachel C Dirks
Jeffrey S Richard
Angela M Fearon
Alexander Scott
Lauren G Koch
Steven L Britton
Stuart J Warden
Publication date
01-12-2013
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders / Issue 1/2013
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2474
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2474-14-90

Other articles of this Issue 1/2013

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 1/2013 Go to the issue