In situ measurement of achilles tendon tension during dorsiflexion - biomed 2009.
The objective of this study was to develop a methodology to measure the tension of the Achilles tendon in cadavers during dorsiflexion. The Achilles tendon was instrumented with a customized load cell designed to measure tension. The leg was inverted and secured in a custom testing apparatus designed to invoke dorsiflexion of the foot. The ball of the foot was secured to an aluminum foot mount, which was instrumented with a load cell to measure effective ground reaction force and an angular rate sensor to provide range of motion. The lateral malleolus was aligned with the pivot point of the foot mount. The mass of the foot mount was used to force dorsiflexion and put the Achilles tendon under tension. The tendon load cell was calibrated to the specific thickness of the Achilles tendon and provided a strong correlation (R2 = 1.00) with average error > 1%. Average peak tension in the Achilles tendon for these tests was 997.5 N and proved to be repeatable. This methodology allows the force-angle relationship between the Achilles tendon and ankle during dorsiflexion to be investigated. Although this testing did not approach potentially injurious Achilles tendon forces, it offers a unique way of measuring Achilles tendon forces in situ and can be used in future studies to evaluate the effect of extrinsic factors on the Achilles tendon.
Virginia Tech-Wake Forest Center for Injury Biomechanics, Blackburg, VA.
Steven
S
Rowson
Craig
C
McNally
Steffany M
SM
Duma