Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29974171›Full record

ArticleKnee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA2019

Acute sensory and motor response to 45-s heavy isometric holds for the plantar flexors in patients with Achilles tendinopathy.

S O'Neill, J Radia, K Bird, M S Rathleff, T Bandholm, M Jorgensen, K Thorborg

Open access · hybridAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 19 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
19citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
5.4field-weighted citation impact, top 4% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

19 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 51 citations in OpenAlex.

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  13. Tendinopathy.Nature reviews. Disease primers · 2021
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.

S O'NeillSchool of Allied Health, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK. so59@leicester.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0904-1381
J RadiaSchool of Allied Health, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
K BirdSchool of Allied Health, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
M S RathleffResearch Unit for General Practice in Aalborg, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.
T BandholmPhysical Medicine and Rehabilitation Research-Copenhagen (PMR-C), Department of Physical and Occupational Therapy, Clinical Research Center, Amager-Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
M JorgensenDepartment of Geriatrics, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.
K ThorborgSport Orthopedic Research Center-Copenhagen (SORC-C), Amager-Hvidovre University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
University of Leicester · GBAalborg University Hospital · DKAmager Hospital · DKUniversity of Copenhagen · DK

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThe purpose of this study was to explore the immediate effects of heavy isometric plantar flexor exercise on sensory output (pain during a functional task and mechanical pain sensitivity) and motor output (plantar flexor torque) in individuals with Achilles tendinopathy.

methodsSixteen subjects with Achilles tendinopathy participated in the study, mean (SD) age 48.6 (8.9) years and Victorian institute assessment-Achilles (VISA-A) score 61.3 (23.0). Sensory testing assessing pain during a functional task, mechanical pain sensitivity and motor output, and plantar flexor peak torque was completed prior to the intervention. All subjects completed a 45-s heavy isometric plantar flexor contraction and were then re-tested using the same sensory and motor tests. Motor output was assessed using isokinetic dynamometry at speeds previously identified as of interest in subjects with Achilles tendinopathy.

resultsOnly 9 of the 16 subjects experienced pain during a functional task, self-reported pain was 4.2 (1.9) numerical rating scale (NRS) pre-intervention and 4.9 (3.2) NRS postintervention (n.s.). Mechanical pressure sensitivity was 446.5 (± 248.5) g/mm

conclusionIn this exploratory study, patients with Achilles tendinopathy had a varied sensory and motor output response to heavy isometric contractions. Using the recommended approach of heavy 45-s isometric contractions did not offer a meaningful acute benefit for sensory or motor output for subjects with Achilles tendinopathy. Based on this study, heavy 45-s isometric contractions cannot be recommended for immediate pain relief or improved motor output for patients with Achilles tendinopathy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, prospective cohort study.

Indexed as

Isometric ContractionAchilles TendonAdultAgedCohort StudiesExercise TherapyFemaleFootHumansMaleMiddle AgedPainPain ManagementPain MeasurementPhysical Therapy ModalitiesProspective StudiesAchillesIsometricsLoadingPainRehabilitationTendinopathy

Identifiers

PMID29974171
PMCPMC6706360
OpenAlexW2574966722

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.