"Moderate- and High-Speed Treadmill Running Exercise Have Minimal Impac" by Margaret K Tamburro, Kelsey A Bonilla et al.
 

Moderate- and High-Speed Treadmill Running Exercise Have Minimal Impact on Rat Achilles Tendon.

Publication/Presentation Date

3-1-2025

Abstract

Exercise influences clinical Achilles tendon health in humans, but animal models of exercise-related Achilles tendon changes are lacking. Moreover, previous investigations of the effects of treadmill running exercise on rat Achilles tendon demonstrate variable outcomes. Our objective was to assess the functional, structural, cellular, and biomechanical impacts of treadmill running exercise on rat Achilles tendon with sensitive in and ex vivo approaches. Three running levels were assessed over the course of 8 weeks: control (cage activity), moderate-speed (treadmill running at 10 m/min, no incline), and high-speed (treadmill running at 20 m/min, 10° incline). We hypothesized that moderate-speed treadmill running would beneficially impact tendon biomechanics through increased tenocyte cellularity, metabolism, and anabolism whereas high-speed treadmill running would cause a tendinopathic phenotype with compromised tendon biomechanics due to pathologic tenocyte differentiation, metabolism, and catabolism. Contrary to our hypothesis, treadmill running exercise at these speeds had a nominal effect on the rat Achilles tendon. Treadmill running modestly influenced tenocyte metabolism and nuclear aspect ratio as well as viscoelastic tendon properties but did not cause a tendinopathic phenotype. These findings highlight the need for improved models of exercise- and loading-related tendon changes that can be leveraged to develop strategies for tendinopathy prevention and treatment.

Volume

43

Issue

3

First Page

519

Last Page

530

ISSN

1554-527X

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMedID

39731286

Department(s)

Department of Surgery

Document Type

Article

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS