Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, No. 138, Sheng-Li Road, Tainan 704, Taiwan.
Department of Surgery, National Cheng Kung University Affiliated Hospital, Tainan 704, Taiwan.
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013;2013:402692. doi: 10.1155/2013/402692. Epub 2013 Nov 20.
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.
射频（RF）常被用作慢性肌腱病缓解疼痛的辅助和替代方法。但它对于急性肌腱损伤的作用机制尚未在文献中得到阐明。通过详细的疼痛和步态监测，我们假设胶原酶诱导的急性肌腱病模型可能能够回答这些问题。使用配备基于视频系统的步行轨道记录和分析步态参数，包括时间、距离和运动范围。物质 P（SP）、降钙素基因相关肽（CGRP）和甘丙肽的表达被用作疼痛标志物。β-III 微管蛋白和 Masson 三色染色用于评估肌腱中的神经发芽、基质张力和变性。在分析的 14 个参数中，RF 显著改善了步态的站立阶段、步长、预摆和中间趾距。改善与物质 P、CGRP 的表达有关，同时减少了神经纤维的发芽和基质张力，但甘丙肽没有变化。该研究表明，直接应用 RF 可能是改善急性肌腱损伤患者步态和疼痛的一种有价值的方法。改变的步态参数可作为评估 RF 或其他肌腱病治疗方案疗效的参考。
