@article{RischWochatzMesserschmidtetal.2017, author = {Risch, Lucie and Wochatz, Monique and Messerschmidt, Janin and Engel, Tilman and Mayer, Frank and Cassel, Michael}, title = {Reliability of evaluating achilles tendon vascularization assessed with doppler ultrasound advanced dynamic flow}, series = {Journal of ultrasound in medicine}, volume = {37}, journal = {Journal of ultrasound in medicine}, number = {3}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {0278-4297}, doi = {10.1002/jum.14414}, pages = {737 -- 744}, year = {2017}, abstract = {The reliability of quantifying intratendinous vascularization by high-sensitivity Doppler ultrasound advanced dynamic flow has not been examined yet. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the intraobserver and interobserver reliability of evaluating Achilles tendon vascularization by advanced dynamic flow using established scoring systems. Methods-Three investigators evaluated vascularization in 67 recordings in a test-retest design, applying the Ohberg score, a modified Ohberg score, and a counting score. Intraobserver and interobserver agreement for the Ohberg score and modified Ohberg score was analyzed by the Cohen kappa and Fleiss kappa coefficients (absolute), Kendall tau b coefficient, and Kendall coefficient of concordance (W; relative). The reliability of the counting score was analyzed by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) 2.1 and 3.1, the standard error of measurement (SEM), and Bland-Altman analysis (bias and limits of agreement [LoA]). Results-Intraobserver and interobserver agreement (absolute/relative) ranged from 0.61 to 0.87/0.87 to 0.95 and 0.11 to 0.66/0.76 to 0.89 for the Ohberg score and from 0.81 to 0.87/0.92 to 0.95 and 0.64 to 0.80/0.88 to 0.93 for the modified Ohberg score, respectively. The counting score revealed an intraobserver ICC of 0.94 to 0.97 (SEM, 1.0-1.5; bias, -1; and LoA, 3-4 vessels). The interobserver ICC for the counting score ranged from 0.91 to 0.98 (SEM, 1.0-1.9; bias, 0; and LoA, 3-5 vessels). Conclusions-The modified Ohberg score and counting score showed excellent reliability and seem convenient for research and clinical practice. The Ohberg score revealed decent intraobserver but unexpected low interobserver reliability and therefore cannot be recommended.}, language = {en} } @article{RischCasselMayer2017, author = {Risch, Lucie and Cassel, Michael and Mayer, Frank}, title = {Acute effect of running exercise on physiological Achilles tendon blood flow}, series = {Scandinavian journal of medicine \& science in sports}, volume = {28}, journal = {Scandinavian journal of medicine \& science in sports}, number = {1}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {0905-7188}, doi = {10.1111/sms.12874}, pages = {138 -- 143}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Sonographically detectable intratendinous blood flow (IBF) is found in 50\%-88\% of Achilles tendinopathy patients as well as in up to 35\% of asymptomatic Achilles tendons (AT). Although IBF is frequently associated with tendon pathology, it may also represent a physiological regulation, for example, due to increased blood flow in response to exercise. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the acute effects of a standardized running exercise protocol on IBF assessed with Doppler ultrasound (DU) Advanced dynamic flow in healthy ATs. 10 recreationally active adults (5 f, 5m; 29 +/- 3years, 1.72 +/- 0.12m, 68 +/- 16kg, physical activity 206 +/- 145minute/wk) with no history of AT pain and inconspicious tendon structure performed 3 treadmill running tasks on separate days (M1-3) with DU examinations directly before and 5, 30, 60, and 120minutes after exercise. At M1, an incremental exercise test was used to determine the individual anaerobic threshold (IAT). At M2 and M3, participants performed 30-minute submaximal constant load tests (CL1/CL2) with an intensity 5\% below IAT. IBF in each tendon was quantified by counting the number of vessels. IBF increased in five ATs from no vessels at baseline to one to four vessels solely detectable 5minutes after CL1 or CL2. One AT had persisting IBF (three vessels) throughout all examinations. Fourteen ATs revealed no IBF at all. Prolonged running led to a physiological, temporary appearance of IBF in 25\% of asymptomatic ATs. To avoid exercise-induced IBF in clinical practice, DU examinations should be performed after 30minutes of rest.}, language = {en} }