title: Direct radiofrequency application improves pain and gait in collagenase-induced acute achilles tendon injury.
abstract: Radiofrequency (RF) is often used as a supplementary and alternative method to alleviate pain for chronic tendinopathy. Whether or how it would work for acute tendon injury is not addressed in the literatures. Through detailed pain and gait monitoring, we hypothesized that collagenase-induce acute tendinopathy model may be able to answer these questions. Gait parameters, including time, distance, and range of motion, were recorded and analyzed using a walking track equipped with a video-based system. Expression of substance P (SP), calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP), and galanin were used as pain markers. Beta-III tubulin and Masson trichrome staining were used as to evaluate nerve sprouting, matrix tension, and degeneration in the tendon. Of fourteen analyzed parameters, RF significantly improved stance phase, step length, preswing, and intermediary toe-spread of gait. Improved gait related to the expression of substance P, CGRP, and reduced nerve fiber sprouting and matrix tension, but not galanin. The study indicates that direct RF application may be a valuable approach to improve gait and pain in acute tendon injury. Altered gait parameters may be used as references to evaluate therapeutic outcomes of RF or other treatment plan for tendinopathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, No. 138, Sheng-Li Road, Tainan 704, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yun-Pu
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, National Cheng Kung University Affiliated Hospital, Tainan 704, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chi-Wen
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, National Cheng Kung University Affiliated Hospital, Tainan 704, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jung-Shun
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Medical Device Innovation Center, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, No. 138, Sheng-Li Road, Tainan 704, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jen-I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Medical Device Innovation Center, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, No. 138, Sheng-Li Road, Tainan 704, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tsung-Hsun
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.affiliation: Medical Device Innovation Center, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, No. 138, Sheng-Li Road, Tainan 704, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ming-Long
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, No. 138, Sheng-Li Road, Tainan 704, Taiwan ; Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, No. 138, Sheng-Li Road, Tainan 704, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chun-I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Sze