Do the heel-rise test and isometric strength improve after Achilles tendon repair using Dresden technique?

• Published in: Foot and ankle surgery 2022-01, Vol.28 (1), p.37-43
• Main Authors: De la Fuente, Carlos, Henriquez, Hugo, Carmont, Michael R., Huincahue, Javiera, Paredes, Tamara, Tapia, María, Araya, Juan Pablo, Díaz, Nicolás, Carpes, Felipe P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Achilles Tendon - surgery; Asymmetry index; Dresden surgery; Heel - surgery; Heel-rise; Humans; Male; Rupture - surgery; Sport medicine; Tear; Tendon Injuries - surgery; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1268-7731; 1460-9584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fas.2021.01.007

•Patients with Dresden repair do not recover full isometric strength at 1 year.•The number of repetitions heel-rise repetition improved at 1 year following Achilles rupture.•Asymmetry index of heel-rise repetitions best predicts plantar flexion strength. Achilles’ tendon ruptures result in impaired plantar flexion strength and endurance. It is interesting to know the plantar flexion strength, the number of heel-rise repetitions, and the maximal calf circumference following Achilles’ tendon ruptures repair. Both the injured and non-injured legs of thirty male patients with Achilles’ tendon ruptures treated with the percutaneous Dresden technique were compared with the ankle function of 30 healthy participants. Rehabilitation involved partial weight-bearing for three weeks and then increased to full weight-bearing and ankle exercises. The injured legs had weaker plantar flexion strength (1.64 ± 0.17 Nm/kg) compared with the non-injured legs (1.91 ± 0.24 Nm/kg; p = 0.002) and the healthy participants’ legs (1.93 ± 0.32 Nm/kg; p < 0.001). The non-injured leg had greater ability in doing heel-rise repetitions (39.4 ± 6.1 rep.) compared with the injured legs (37.2 ± 5.7 rep.; p < 0.023) and the healthy participants’ legs (31.0 ± 13.0 rep.; p < 0.001). The injured leg had not recovered full isometric strength but had improved heel-rise repetition.