Thermal and non-thermal effects off capacitive-resistive electric transfer application on the achilles tendon and musculotendinous junction of the gastrocnemius muscle: a cadaveric study

López de Celis, Carlos ; Hidalgo García, César (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Pérez Bellmunt, Albert ; Fanlo Mazas, Pablo (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; González Rueda, Vanessa ; Tricás Moreno, José Miguel (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Ortiz, Sara ; Rodríguez Sanz, Jacobo

Resumen: Background Calf muscle strain and Achilles tendon injuries are common in many sports. For the treatment of muscular and tendinous injuries, one of the newer approaches in sports medicine is capacitive-resistive electric transfer therapy. Our objective was to analyze this in vitro, using invasive temperature measurements in cadaveric specimens.
Methods A cross-sectional study designed with five fresh frozen cadavers (10 legs) were included in this study. Four interventions (capacitive and resistive modes; low- and high-power) was performed for 5¿min each by a diathermy “T-Plus” device. Achilles tendon, musculotendinous junction and superficial temperatures were recorded at 1-min intervals and 5¿min after treatment.
Results With the low-power capacitive protocol, at 5¿min, there was a 25.21% increase in superficial temperature, a 17.50% increase in Achilles tendon temperature and an 11.27% increase in musculotendinous junction temperature, with a current flow of 0.039 A¿±¿0.02.
With the low-power resistive protocol, there was a 1.14% increase in superficial temperature, a 28.13% increase in Achilles tendon temperature and an 11.67% increase in musculotendinous junction temperature at 5¿min, with a current flow of 0.063 A¿±¿0.02. With the high-power capacitive protocol there was an 88.52% increase in superficial temperature, a 53.35% increase in Achilles tendon temperature and a 39.30% increase in musculotendinous junction temperature at 5¿min, with a current flow of 0.095 A¿±¿0.03. With the high-power resistive protocol, there was a 21.34% increase in superficial temperature, a 109.70% increase in Achilles tendon temperature and an 81.49% increase in musculotendinous junction temperature at 5¿min, with a current flow of 0.120 A¿±¿0.03.
Conclusion The low-power protocols resulted in only a very slight thermal effect at the Achilles tendon and musculotendinous junction, but current flow was observed. The high-power protocols resulted in a greater temperature increase at the Achilles tendon and musculotendinous junction and a greater current flow than the low-power protocols. The high-power resistive protocol gave the greatest increase in Achilles tendon and musculotendinous junction temperature. Capacitive treatments (low- and high-power) achieved a greater increase in superficial temperature.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1186/s12891-020-3072-4

Año: 2020

Publicado en: BMC MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS 21 (2020), 46 [8 pp.]
ISSN: 1471-2474

Factor impacto JCR: 2.362 (2020)

Categ. JCR: ORTHOPEDICS rank: 41 / 82 = 0.5 (2020) - Q2 - T2
Categ. JCR: RHEUMATOLOGY rank: 29 / 34 = 0.853 (2020) - Q4 - T3

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 0.836 - Rheumatology (Q2) - Orthopedics and Sports Medicine (Q2)

Tipo y forma: Artículo (Versión definitiva)

Área (Departamento): Área Fisioterapia (Dpto. Fisiatría y Enfermería)