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The acute effects of exercise on the microvascular volume of A chilles tendons in healthy young subjects
Author(s) -
Pingel Jessica,
Harrison Adrian,
Suetta Charlotte,
Simonsen Lene,
Langberg Henning,
Bülow Jens
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
clinical physiology and functional imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.608
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1475-097X
pISSN - 1475-0961
DOI - 10.1111/cpf.12021
Subject(s) - medicine , tendon , ultrasound , cardiology , plantar flexion , blood flow , surgery , ankle , radiology
Summary Background Real‐time harmonic contrast‐enhanced ultrasound ( CEU ) is used in several diseases to visualize the microvascularization in various tissues, due to its high sensitivity. Aim The aim of the present study was to investigate whether CEU could be used to detect an increase in the microvascular volume ( MV ) in healthy tendon tissue in response to exercise comprising a 1‐h run. Methods After a bolus injection of the ultrasound contrast S ono V ue ® , CEU measurements of ( MV ) in the A chilles tendon were taken prior to exercise, immediately after a 1‐h run, and 24 h after exercise in nine healthy young subjects (seven men and two women) mean age 31 ± 4 years. In addition, the effect of 15 min of arm cycling exercise on the flow within the A chilles tendon was tested in four athletes (mean age 33 ± 6 years) using the CEU method before and after exercise. Results The present data show a significant increase in the ( MV ) of the A chilles tendon for all subjects following the run compared with before exercise. No significant change in ( MV ) was seen in the A chilles tendon after 15‐min arm cycling exercise ( P = 0·96). This indicates that the increase in microvascular blood volume within the A chilles tendon in response to running is a local response. Conclusion The present data reveal that real‐time harmonic CEU can be used to determine the MV of healthy A chilles tendons both at rest and after 1 h of running exercise.