Exercise‐induced tendon hypertrophy: cross‐sectional area changes during growth are influenced by exercise

Abstract

SummaryMost skeletal tissues are thought to adapt to the mechanical environment they experience. While this has been demonstrated for muscle and bone, previous studies in the mature horse have failed to demonstrate adaptation in the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT), which suffers a high frequency of injury. This study tested the hypothesis that imposed exercise during growth would result in an increase in SDFT cross-sectional area (CSA). Fourteen Thoroughbred foals were divided into 2 sex-matched groups. A control group received 4 h pasture exercise and an exercise group had the same amount of pasture exercise with an additional short period of treadmill exercise daily from age 2-15 months. Activity at pasture was assessed objectively using a visual system. There was no significant difference in pasture activity between groups, although males were more active than females. The exercise programme resulted in a significantly larger tendon CSA in the exercise group at several, but not all, timepoints, which may be attributed to levels of variance. However, there was a significantly greater rate of increase in tendon CSA as a function of time in the exercised compared to the control group. This is the first evidence to suggest that tendon development can be modulated by exercise during growth in the horse, potentially increasing the ability of tendon to withstand the rigours of later athletic activity.

Avaliação dos ligamentos longitudinais da coluna de ratos Wistar em modelo experimental da terapia Suit

“…Such thickening may be the result of a process of ligament degeneration caused by metaplasia of collagen fibers giving rise to infiltrators of chondrocytes, proliferation of fusiform cells similar to fibroblasts, infiltration of vessels and small ossifications 23 . In the research by Kasashima et al 15 , the results support the hypothesis that the imposition of additional physical activity, even after a long period of rest with little activity, did not result in compensatory activity of tendon tissue of ponies, but cumulative instead. This allows the reasoning of the stay of individuals, with little musculoskeletal capacity, before loads and in long periods, also considering suit therapy in home environment.…”

“…A study by Kasashima et al 15 with ponies demonstrated that there was an increase in the thickness of the superficial digital flexor tendon in groups that exercised daily with load for short periods, however long lasting. Previously, Fujie et al 16 had already observed in rabbits aging one to three months that the changes in mechanical dimensions and properties of patellar tendons, induced by mechanical stress, were higher in younger animals.…”

Ultrasonographic evaluation of cross-sectional area of tarsal ligaments in Standardbred Trotter Horses

“…The training programme for each horse was another variable that could lead to anatomical structure modification for adaptive hypertrophic changes in the matrix composition, resulting in an increase of ligament CSA, which was assumed to be consistent throughout the life of the horse (Cherdchutham et al 2001;Kasashima et al 2002;Moffat et al 2008;Dyson et al 2017). For this reason, horses that follow or had followed the same training were selected.…”

Olimpik Okçularda Parmak Fleksör Tendonlarının Sonografik Değerlendirmesi

“…Overuse type of tendon injuries are among the most common musculoskeletal pathologies in recreational and competitive athletes; and the structural changes have been widely reported (1). Load-induced structural changes, especially hypertrophy, have been also studied in tendons of animals and healthy subjects (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11). On the other hand, relevant data regarding asymptomatic athletes are scarce (6,10,12).…”