Review Question - QID 4558

Eccentric exercises are important to implement into a functional rehabilitation program for Achilles tendinopathy.

Eccentric exercises most efficiently strengthen skeletal muscle. Eccentric exercise is a type of isotonic exercise that includes constant muscle tension while the muscle is lengthening.

Ohberg et al. prospectively evaluated 25 patients with Achilles tendinosis treated with eccentric exercises followed by ultrasound evaluations. They found that eccentric calf muscle training showed a localized decrease in tendon thickness and a normalized tendon structure on ultrasound examination in most patients.

Shalabi et al. prospectively evaluated 25 patient with chronic Achilles tendinopathy treated with eccentric exercises followed with MRI evaluations. Eccentric training led to a decreased tendon volume and intratendinous signal and was correlated with an improved clinical outcome.

Illustration A represents an eccentric exercise and is the exercise that most efficiently strengthens skeletal muscle.

Incorrect Answers:
Answer 1: Plyometric exercises have not been found to be better than eccentric exercises.
Answer 2: Isokinetic strengthening, such as a Cybex machine, involves movement at a constant speed.
Answer 3: Concentric exercise is a type of isotonic exercise. As the muscle is shortening the tension is proportional to the external load.
Answer 5: In isometric exercises since there is constant muscle length and tension that is proportional to the external load, there is no movement. A similar movement would include pushing against an immovable object such as a wall.