Highlights
- •Intermittent compression showed similar changes in blood volume of patellar and Achilles tendons.
- •A positive correlation was found between changes in blood volume of Achilles tendon and heart rate.
- •Intermittent compression is useful as simple maintenance method for preventing tendon disorders.
Abstract
Background
The purpose of this study was to compare changes in tendon blood circulation and heart
rate variability after intermittent compression to the patellar and Achilles tendons.
Methods
Before the intermittent compression to tendons (3 min) and the recovery period (40 min),
the blood volume and oxygen saturation of the patellar and Achilles tendons were measured
using red laser lights. In addition, heart rate and ratio of low-frequency to high-frequency
components of heart rate variability were measured.
Findings
Blood volume and oxygen saturation of patellar and Achilles tendons significantly
increased after intermittent compression stimulation (both p ≤ 0.001). There were no differences in increases of blood volume (p = 0.575) and oxygen saturation (p = 0.055) between patellar and Achilles tendons. For both tendons treatments, heart
rate (p = 0.698) and ratio of low-frequency to high-frequency components of heart rate variability
(p = 0.518) did not change during the experimental period. In addition, the change in
blood volume for Achilles tendon was significantly correlated with that in heart rate
but not ratio of low-frequency to high-frequency components of heart rate variability,
whereas the change in blood volume for patellar tendon was not significantly correlated
with that in the heart rate or ratio of low-frequency to high-frequency components
of heart rate variability,.
Interpretation
These results suggest that intermittent compression-induced changes in blood circulation
were similar between patellar and Achilles tendons. In addition, the increase in blood
volume after intermittent compression stimulation in the Achilles tendon would be
related to the increased metabolism of the tendon.
Keywords
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: June 03, 2022
Accepted:
May 31,
2022
Received:
March 11,
2022
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
