Shear Wave Elastography Assessments Of Skeletal Muscle And Achilles Tendon Stiffness After Jogging Exercise

ObjectiveTo quantify the stiffness changes of lower extremity muscles and the Achilles tendon before and after jogging exercise,and to detect the effect of static stretching on the same muscles and Achilles tendon after jogging by using shear wave elastography(SWE)techniques.MethodsA total of 50 healthy individuals were enrolled in this study.The subjects were randomly divided into 2 groups:stretching group and resting group.According to the preset aerobic exercise protocol,Young's module of lower extremity muscles and the Achilles tendon were measured before and after jogging in place for 30 minutes,including immediately after jogging,10 minutes after jogging and 20 minutes after jogging respectively.Cross-comparison of the Young's module of the target muscles and the Achilles tendons of the two groups before and after jogging were conducted.Results1.In the stretching group,Young's module of the target muscles detected 10 minutes after as well as 20 minutes after jogging were increased significantly in comparison with those of before exercising(P<0.05).Young's module of target muscles detected immediately after jogging were increased than before but decreased 20 minutes after exercising,insignificantly(P>0.05).2.In the stretching group,the Young's modulus of the Achilles tendon detected immediately after jogging were increased significantly compared with before exercising(P<0.05).It also increased 10 minutes after jogging,yet the difference was insignificant(P>0.05).It decreased 20 minutes after in comparison with before exercising,but the differences were insignificant(P>0.05).It also decreased insignificantly 10 minutes after and 20 minutes after compared with immediately after exercising(P>0.05).3.In the resting group,Young's module of the target muscles detected immediately after jogging and 10 minutes after as well as 20 minutes after jogging were increased significantly in comparison with those of before exercising(P<0.05).In cross-comparion of the Young's module of the target muscles detected immediately after jogging as well as 10 minutes after and 20 minutes after jogging,the differences were insignificant(P>0.05).4.In the resting group,the Young's modulus of the Achilles tendon detected immediately after jogging were increased significantly compared with before exercising(P<0.05).It also increased 10 minutes after and 20 minutes after jogging,but the difference was insignificant(P>0.05).And it decreased significantly 10 minutes after and 20 minutes after in comparison with immediately after jogging(P<0.05).5.There is no significant difference between stretching group and resting group with regard to the Young' s module of lower extremity muscles and achilles tendon.Conclusion1.It is applicable to detect the Young's Module of the lower extremity muscles and the Achilles tendon before and after aerobic jogging exercise,and to assess the effect of static stretching on the same muscles and Achilles tendon by using shear wave elastography techniques.2.The lower extremity muscles get stiffer immediately,10 minutes and 20 minutes after jogging exercise compared with before exercising.3.With regard to the Achilles tendon,examine in plantar flexion position,it gets stiffer immediately after jogging exercise in comparison with before exercise,while 10 minutes and 20 minutes after jogging,it tends to recover to the baseline.4.There is no significant difference between stretching group and resting group with regard to the Young's module of lower extremity muscles and achilles tendon.More subjects should be enrolled at this research to get the most convincing results.