Age-related changes in biomechanical properties of the Achilles tendon in rabbits

Nakagawa, Yoku; Hayashi, Kozaburo; Yamamoto, Naokatsu; Nagashima, Kazuo

doi:10.1007/bf00262803

Cited by 107 publications

(82 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…ULF increased between 6 and 16 weeks of age and then decreased in the older animals ( Table 2). This trend is similar to that described previously for age-related failure properties in tendons and ligaments (31,32). Two-way ANOVA showed that there was no significant difference in this structural property between DH and BS2 animals.…”

Section: Biomechanicssupporting

confidence: 90%

Cruciate ligament laxity and femoral intercondylar notch narrowing in early‐stage knee osteoarthritis

Quasnichka¹,

Anderson-MacKenzie²,

Tarlton³

et al. 2005

Arthritis & Rheumatism

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Objective. The influence of the cruciate ligaments in spontaneous osteoarthritis (OA) is not understood, although ligament rupture is known to cause secondary OA. Additionally, femoral notch narrowing at the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) insertion site is associated with disease severity, but it is unknown whether ligament deterioration precedes or follows osteophyte formation. We examined cruciate ligament mechanics and metabolism and the intercondylar notch width in OAprone Dunkin-Hartley (DH) guinea pigs at ages up to and including the age at OA onset (24 weeks), and compared the data with those in age-matched controls (Bristol strain 2 [BS2] guinea pigs).Methods. Guinea pigs were assessed at 3, 6, 9, 12, 16, 20, 24, and 36 weeks of age. ACLs were mechanically tested, and the intercondylar notch width index (NWI) was determined. Cruciate ligament metabolism was determined by measuring the following markers of collagen turnover: matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2, C-terminal type I procollagen propeptide (PICP), and the immature collagen-derived crosslink dihydroxylysinonorleucine (DHLNL).Results. DH guinea pigs had significantly laxer ACLs than did BS2 guinea pigs, at 12, 16, and 24 weeks. We observed elevated levels of pro and active MMP-2, PICP, and DHLNL in the cruciate ligaments of DH animals at most ages, compared with BS2 guinea pigs. The NWI in DH animals was significantly lower than that in BS2 guinea pigs at 24 and 36 weeks.Conclusion. In DH guinea pigs, laxer ACLs, which are associated with increased collagen turnover, may cause joint instability and predispose these animals to the early onset of OA. Decreased intercondylar notch width in the DH animals indicates that bone remodeling at the ACL insertion site is a response to elevated ACL laxity.

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Section: Biomechanicssupporting

confidence: 90%

Cruciate ligament laxity and femoral intercondylar notch narrowing in early‐stage knee osteoarthritis

Quasnichka¹,

Anderson-MacKenzie²,

Tarlton³

et al. 2005

Arthritis & Rheumatism

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“…Recent reports demonstrate that young human tendons respond to physical activity by increasing tendon size, which is accompanied by altered functional mechanical properties Seynnes et al 2009). In animal models, aging is associated with an increase in tendon cross-sectional area (Nakagawa et al 1996;Birch et al 1999), and in humans, the Achilles tendon, but not the patellar tendon, appears to undergo hypertrophy with aging (Magnusson et al 2003;Carroll et al 2008). In the present study, we found a greater crosssectional area of the patellar tendon in endurance athletes, which by definition resulted in a lower tendon stress for a given load.…”

Section: Tendon Dimensionssupporting

confidence: 55%

Life-long endurance running is associated with reduced glycation and mechanical stress in connective tissue

Couppé

Svensson

Grosset

et al. 2014

AGE

109

103

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Life-long regular endurance exercise is known to counteract the deterioration of cardiovascular and metabolic function and overall mortality. Yet it remains unknown if life-long regular endurance exercise can influence the connective tissue accumulation of advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) that is associated with aging and lifestyle-related diseases. We therefore examined two groups of healthy elderly men: 15 master athletes (64±4 years) who had been engaged in life-long endurance running and 12 old untrained (66±4 years) together with two groups of healthy young men; ten young athletes matched for running distance (26±4 years), and 12 young untrained (24±3 years). AGE cross-links (pentosidine) of the patellar tendon AGE (2014) were measured biochemically, and in the skin, it was assessed by a fluorometric method. In addition, we determined mechanical properties and microstructure of the patellar tendon. Life-long regular endurance runners (master athletes) had a 21 % lower AGE cross-link density compared to old untrained. Furthermore, both master athletes and young athletes displayed a thicker patellar tendon. These cross-sectional data suggest that life-long regular endurance running can partly counteract the aging process in connective tissue by reducing age-related accumulation of AGEs. This may not only benefit skin and tendon but also other long-lived protein tissues in the body. Furthermore, it appears that endurance running yields tendon tissue hypertrophy that may serve to lower the stress on the tendon and thereby reduce the risk of injury.

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“…One study suggests that aging produces stiffer and stronger tendons [50], but other investigations led to the opposite conclusion [44,54] or showed no effect of aging on most of the mechanical properties of the tendon [16]. In animals, tenocyte metabolism changes with increasing age [13], and these changes are accompanied by morphologic changes [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Favorable Outcome of Percutaneous Repair of Achilles Tendon Ruptures in the Elderly

Maffulli

Longo

Ronga

et al. 2010

Clinical Orthopaedics &Amp; Related Research

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Percutaneous repair of Achilles tendon (AT) ruptures reportedly reduces the risk of rerupture compared to nonoperative treatment and reduces the risk of wound infection compared to open surgery. We retrospectively reviewed the postoperative Achilles tendon total rupture score (ATRS), and the maximum calf circumference in 35 patients over 65 years of age who sustained an acute tear of the AT and underwent percutaneous repair of the AT. There were 26 men and nine women with a mean age at operation of 73.4 ± 8.7 years (range, 65-86 years). Of the 35 recruited patients, we report on 27 patients for whom we have a full data set. The minimum followup was 49 months (mean, 88 months; range, 49-110 months). The ATRS had a postoperative average rating of 69.4 ± 14 (range, 56-93). All patients were able to bear weight fully on the affected limb by the eighth postoperative week. The data suggest that percutaneous repair of the AT is a suitable option for patients older than 65, producing similar outcomes when compared to percutaneous repair in younger patients of previous reports.

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Age-related changes in biomechanical properties of the Achilles tendon in rabbits

Cited by 107 publications

References 23 publications

Cruciate ligament laxity and femoral intercondylar notch narrowing in early‐stage knee osteoarthritis

Cruciate ligament laxity and femoral intercondylar notch narrowing in early‐stage knee osteoarthritis

Life-long endurance running is associated with reduced glycation and mechanical stress in connective tissue

Favorable Outcome of Percutaneous Repair of Achilles Tendon Ruptures in the Elderly

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