TY - JOUR A1 - Risch, Lucie A1 - Stoll, Josefine A1 - Schomöller, Anne A1 - Engel, Tilman A1 - Mayer, Frank A1 - Cassel, Michael T1 - Intraindividual Doppler Flow Response to Exercise Differs Between Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Achilles Tendons JF - Frontiers in physiology N2 - Objective: This study investigated intraindividual differences of intratendinous blood flow (IBF) in response to running exercise in participants with Achilles tendinopathy. Design: This is a cross-sectional study. Setting: The study was conducted at the University Outpatient Clinic. Participants: Sonographic detectable intratendinous blood flow was examined in symptomatic and contralateral asymptomatic Achilles tendons of 19 participants (42 ± 13 years, 178 ± 10 cm, 76 ± 12 kg, VISA-A 75 ± 16) with clinically diagnosed unilateral Achilles tendinopathy and sonographic evident tendinosis. Intervention: IBF was assessed using Doppler ultrasound “Advanced Dynamic Flow” before (Upre) and 5, 30, 60, and 120 min (U5–U120) after a standardized submaximal constant load run. Main Outcome Measure: IBF was quantified by counting the number (n) of vessels in each tendon. Results: At Upre, IBF was higher in symptomatic compared with asymptomatic tendons [mean 6.3 (95% CI: 2.8–9.9) and 1.7 (0.4–2.9), p < 0.01]. Overall, 63% of symptomatic and 47% of asymptomatic Achilles tendons responded to exercise, whereas 16 and 11% showed persisting IBF and 21 and 42% remained avascular throughout the investigation. At U5, IBF increased in both symptomatic and asymptomatic tendons [difference to baseline: 2.4 (0.3–4.5) and 0.9 (0.5–1.4), p = 0.05]. At U30 to U120, IBF was still increased in symptomatic but not in asymptomatic tendons [mean difference to baseline: 1.9 (0.8–2.9) and 0.1 (-0.9 to 1.2), p < 0.01]. Conclusion: Irrespective of pathology, 47–63% of Achilles tendons responded to exercise with an immediate acute physiological IBF increase by an average of one to two vessels (“responders”). A higher amount of baseline IBF (approximately five vessels) and a prolonged exercise-induced IBF response found in symptomatic ATs indicate a pain-associated altered intratendinous “neovascularization.” KW - achilles tendinopathy KW - tendinosis KW - neovascularization KW - ultrasound KW - advanced dynamic flow KW - sonography Y1 - 2021 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.617497 SN - 1664-042X VL - 12 SP - 1 EP - 8 PB - Frontiers Research Foundation CY - Lausanne, Schweiz ER - TY - GEN A1 - Joost, Theresa Anna A1 - Brecht, Pia A1 - Mayer, Frank A1 - Cassel, Michael T1 - Feasibility of open low-field MRI measurements in adolescent athletes with spondylolisthesis T2 - Medicine and science in sports and exercise : official journal of the American College of Sports Medicine N2 - PURPOSE: To determine the feasibility of upright compared to supine MRI measurements to determine characteristics of the lumbar spine in AA with spondylolisthesis. METHODS: Ten AA (n=10; m/f: 4/6; 14.5±1.7y; 163±7cm; 52±8kg) from various sports, diagnosed with spondylolisthesis grade I-II Meyerding confirmed by x-ray in standing lateral view, were included. Open low-field MRI images (0.25 Tesla) in upright (82°) and supine (0°) position were evaluated by two observers. Medical imaging software was used to measure the anterior translation (AT, mm), lumbosacral joint angle (LSJA, °) and lordosis angle (LA, °). Reliability was analyzed by the intra-rater correlation coefficient (ICC) and standard error of measurements (SEM). RESULTS: Due to motion artifacts during upright position, measures of three participants had to be excluded. Between observers, AT ranged from 4.2±2.7mm to 5.5±1.9mm (ICC=0.94, SEM=0.6mm) in upright and from 4.9±2.4mm to 5.9±3.0mm (ICC=0.89, SEM=0.9mm) in supine position. LSJA varied from 5.1±2.2° to 7.3±1.5° (ICC=0.54, SEM=1.5°) in upright and from 9.8±2.5° to 10±2.4° (ICC=0.73, SEM=1.1°) in supine position. LA differed from 58.8±14.6° to 61.9±6° (ICC=0.94, SEM=1.19°) in upright and from 51.9±11.7° to 52.6±11.1° (ICC=0.98, SEM=1.59°) in supine position. CONCLUSIONS: Determination of AT and LA showed good to excellent reliability in both, upright and supine position. In contrast, reliability of LSJA had only moderate to good correlation between observers and should therefore be interpreted with caution. However, motion artifacts should be taken into consideration during upright imaging procedures. Y1 - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1249/01.mss.0000683832.74059.9d SN - 0195-9131 SN - 1530-0315 VL - 52 IS - 17 SP - 790 EP - 790 PB - Lippincott Williams & Wilkins CY - Philadelphia ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Risch, Lucie A1 - Bashford, Greg A1 - Kulig, Kornelia A1 - Kaplick, Hannes A1 - Mayer, Frank A1 - Cassel, Michael T1 - Spatial frequency analysis identifies altered local Micromorphology in adolescent athletes with Achilles tendinopathy T2 - Medicine and science in sports and exercise : MSSE ; official journal of the American College of Sports Medicine Y1 - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1249/01.mss.0000670932.99564.57 SN - 0195-9131 SN - 1530-0315 VL - 52 SP - 82 EP - 82 PB - Lippincott Williams & Wilkins CY - Philadelphia ER -