Modified Ankle Joint Neuromechanics during One-Legged Heel Raise Test after an Achilles Rupture and Its Associations with Jumping

Featured Application Application: It is strongly recommended that eccentric exercises involving the soleus muscle be included in supplementary treatment regimens to reduce neuromechanical compromises after an Achilles tendon rupture. This study had two purposes. The first purpose of the study was to compare the electromyographic(EMG) and dynamic characteristics in injured and non-injured legs during the one-legged heel-raise test after a unilateral Achilles repair. The second purpose was to determine the correlations between the EMG results and the dynamic characteristics and between the characteristics in the eccentric phase and jumping distance. Twenty-six participants who underwent an Achilles repair between 4 and 12 months prior to the measurement were recruited to perform the following bilateral tests: (1) one-legged heel-raise test with measurements of muscle activation, kinematics, and kinetics and (2) one-legged forward jumping. During the heel-raise exercise, there were increases of the EMG amplitudes in the soleus and tibialis anterior muscles, lower ankle joint angle and angular velocity, lower normalized ground reaction force, and mechanical work in the repaired legs in comparison to the non-injured legs. The EMG results of the medial gastrocnemius and soleus muscles correlated with the dynamic results (r(s) = 0.467 and -0.537). Furthermore, the dynamic data in the eccentric phase were correlated with the jumping performance (r(s) = 0.575 and -0.471). It is concluded the soleus muscle undergoes neuromechanical changes, including changes in EMG and dynamic characteristics, and changes affecting jumping performance.

Automated summary

The study compared the electromyographic and dynamic characteristics in the injured and non-injured legs after Achilles tendon repair. The results showed significant changes in EMG and dynamic characteristics in the repaired legs during heel-raise exercise, affecting jumping performance.