DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Does Achilles Tendon Shortening Mean Pathologic Lesions?

짧은 아킬레스건의 의미

  • Won, Sung Hun (Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital) ;
  • Chun, Dong-Il (Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital)
  • 원성훈 (순천향대학교 서울병원 정형외과) ;
  • 천동일 (순천향대학교 서울병원 정형외과)
  • Received : 2021.04.09
  • Accepted : 2021.05.24
  • Published : 2021.06.15

Abstract

This review article attempts to describe several pathological conditions that can arise from the shortening of the Achilles tendon. The tension and tightening of the gastrocnemius-soleus-Achilles tendon complex (GSAC) can cause disharmony in the movement of the entire foot as well as the ankle joint when subjected to weight-bearing or walking. In addition, since these phenomena are observed in various lesions of the ankle joint, the dynamic shortening caused by the tension of GSAC may not be the primary cause of various ankle joint lesions, but is still considered to be a significant contributing factor.

Keywords

References

  1. Arandes R, Viladot A. [Biomecanica del calcaneo]. Minerva Chir. 1954;9:439-46. Spanish.
  2. DiGiovanni CW, Kuo R, Tejwani N, Price R, Hansen ST Jr, Cziernecki J, et al. Isolated gastrocnemius tightness. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2002;84:962-70. doi: 10.2106/00004623-200206000-00010.
  3. Meyer DB, O'Rahilly R. The onset of ossification in the human calcaneus. Anat Embryol (Berl). 1976;150:19-33. doi: 10.1007/BF00346283.
  4. Vieira L. Phylogenetics of the fascial system. Cureus. 2020;12:e10787. doi: 10.7759/cureus.10787.
  5. Zwirner J, Zhang M, Ondruschka B, Akita K, Hammer N. An ossifying bridge - on the structural continuity between the Achilles tendon and the plantar fascia. Sci Rep. 2020;10:14523. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-71316-z.
  6. Singh A, Zwirner J, Templer F, Kieser D, Klima S, Hammer N. On the morphological relations of the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia via the calcaneus: a cadaveric study. Sci Rep. 2021;11:5986. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-85251-0.
  7. Stecco C, Corradin M, Macchi V, Morra A, Porzionato A, Biz C, et al. Plantar fascia anatomy and its relationship with Achilles tendon and paratenon. J Anat. 2013;223:665-76. doi: 10.1111/joa.12111.
  8. Thordarson DB, Schmotzer H, Chon J, Peters J. Dynamic support of the human longitudinal arch. A biomechanical evaluation. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1995;(316):165-72.
  9. Antoniak G, Biswas T, Cortes N, Sikdar S, Chun C, Bhandawat V. Spring-loaded inverted pendulum goes through two contraction-extension cycles during the single-support phase of walking. Biol Open. 2019;8:bio043695. doi: 10.1242/bio.043695.
  10. Ballal MS, Walker CR, Molloy AP. The anatomical footprint of the Achilles tendon: a cadaveric study. Bone Joint J. 2014;96-B:1344-8. doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.96B10.33771.
  11. DiGiovanni CW, Langer P. The role of isolated gastrocnemius and combined Achilles contractures in the flatfoot. Foot Ankle Clin. 2007;12:363-79, viii. doi: 10.1016/j.fcl.2007.03.005.
  12. Johnson CH, Christensen JC. Biomechanics of the first ray part V: the effect of equinus deformity. A 3-dimensional kinematic study on a cadaver model. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2005;44:114-20. doi: 10.1053/j.jfas.2005.01.003.
  13. Johnson KA, Strom DE. Tibialis posterior tendon dysfunction. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1989;(239):196-206.
  14. Blackman AJ, Blevins JJ, Sangeorzan BJ, Ledoux WR. Cadaveric flatfoot model: ligament attenuation and Achilles tendon overpull. J Orthop Res. 2009;27:1547-54. doi: 10.1002/jor.20930.
  15. Engkananuwat P, Kanlayanaphotporn R, Purepong N. Effectiveness of the simultaneous stretching of the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia in individuals with plantar fasciitis. Foot Ankle Int. 2018;39:75-82. doi: 10.1177/1071100717732762.
  16. Patel A, DiGiovanni B. Association between plantar fasciitis and isolated contracture of the gastrocnemius. Foot Ankle Int. 2011;32:5-8. doi: 10.3113/FAI.2011.0005.
  17. Snow SW, Bohne WH, DiCarlo E, Chang VK. Anatomy of the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia in relation to the calcaneus in various age groups. Foot Ankle Int. 1995;16:418-21. doi: 10.1177/107110079501600707.
  18. Ramanujam CL, Zgonis T. Surgical correction of the Achilles tendon for diabetic foot ulcerations and Charcot neuroarthropathy. Clin Podiatr Med Surg. 2017;34:275-80. doi: 10.1016/j.cpm.2016.10.013.