Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports
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Scand J Med Sci Sports · Aug 2012
Randomized Controlled TrialMetabolic activity in early tendon repair can be enhanced by intermittent pneumatic compression.
Since Achilles tendon healing is protracted, more knowledge of metabolites known to meet the demands for biosynthesis and proliferation is needed. We hypothesized that essential metabolites, glutamate, glucose, lactate, pyruvate and glycerol, are present and upregulated in healing Achilles tendons. We moreover hypothesized that adjuvant intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC), which increases blood flow, upregulates metabolite concentrations. ⋯ Healing tendons of the IPC vs control group displayed higher levels of glutamate (84 ± 15 vs 62 ± 16) and glucose (3.44 ± 0.62 vs 2.62 ± 0.72); (P < 0.05) and trends toward higher concentrations of pyruvate, lactate, and glycerol (P < 0.10). The present study demonstrates that early Achilles tendon repair entails and upregulates local essential metabolites. This metabolic response can, during tendon healing with plaster cast immobilization, be promoted by adjuvant IPC.