FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / J Biomech / Exercise-induced hyperthermia as a possible mechanism for te...
Journal of biomechanics1994; 27(7); 899-905; doi: 10.1016/0021-9290(94)90262-3

Exercise-induced hyperthermia as a possible mechanism for tendon degeneration.

Abstract: Mathematical modelling of tendon thermodynamics predicted that the temperature of the central core of the equine superficial digital flexor tendon would plateau at 11 degrees C above the tendon surface temperature during a sustained gallop. A mean temperature differential (between tendon core and surface) of 5.4 (S.E. +/- 1.0) degrees C was demonstrated in vivo in four horses. Peak intra-tendinous temperatures in the range 43-45 degrees C were recorded. Temperatures above 42.5 degrees C are known to result in fibroblast death in vitro [Hall (1988) Radiobiology for the Radiologist, 3rd Edn., pp. 294-329]. These in vivo recordings provide a possible aetiology for the degenerative changes that are observed in the central core of tendons in both equine and human athletes.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 1994-07-01 PubMed ID: 8063840DOI: 10.1016/0021-9290(94)90262-3Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research suggests that physical activity could elevate the inner temperature of tendons, potentially causing tendon degeneration in equine and human athletes due to fibroblast cell death.

Research Aim and Methodology

  • The study aimed to understand whether intensive exercise and the resulting heat could lead to tendon degradation through the death of fibroblast cells. The research focused on the equine superficial digital flexor tendon, common in both horses and humans.
  • Researchers used mathematical modeling to predict how the temperature inside the tendon would rise during prolonged strenuous activity like a sustained gallop.
  • They then verified these predictions through in vivo tests on four horses, measuring and comparing the temperature at the core and surface of the tendons during exercise.

Key Findings

  • The predictions made via mathematical modeling suggested that the core temperature of the tendon could increase to a point 11 degrees Celsius higher than the tendon’s surface temperature.
  • The in vivo experiments confirmed these predictions, showing an average temperature difference of 5.4 degrees Celsius (with a standard error of +/- 1.0) between the core and surface of the tendon.
  • The study found observed peak intra-tendinous temperatures to be around 43-45 degrees Celsius, which is significantly higher than 42.5 degrees Celsius, a threshold where fibroblast cell death is known to occur.

Implications of the Research

  • The results indicate that intense physical activity can cause significant internal heating in tendons, which can lead to degenerative changes due to fibroblast cell death.
  • This temperature-induced damage could explain the common occurrence of tendon degradation in equine and human athletes. These findings may have crucial implications for athletic training, injury prevention, and treatment protocols.
  • Future research could focus on devising strategies to regulate tendon temperature during strenuous activity, potentially mitigating the risk of exercise-induced tendon degeneration.

Cite This Article

APA
Wilson AM, Goodship AE. (1994). Exercise-induced hyperthermia as a possible mechanism for tendon degeneration. J Biomech, 27(7), 899-905. https://doi.org/10.1016/0021-9290(94)90262-3

Publication

Journal of biomechanics
ISSN: 0021-9290
NlmUniqueID: 0157375
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 27
Issue: 7
Pages: 899-905

Researcher Affiliations

Wilson, A M
  • Department of Anatomy, University of Bristol, U.K.
Goodship, A E

    MeSH Terms

    • Achilles Tendon / blood supply
    • Achilles Tendon / physiopathology
    • Animals
    • Body Temperature / physiology
    • Electrodes, Implanted
    • Energy Metabolism / physiology
    • Exercise / physiology
    • Fever / physiopathology
    • Forecasting
    • Hoof and Claw
    • Horses
    • Humans
    • Models, Biological
    • Regional Blood Flow / physiology
    • Running / physiology
    • Tendons / blood supply
    • Tendons / physiopathology
    • Thermal Conductivity
    • Thermodynamics
    • Thermometers

    Citations

    This article has been cited 32 times.
    1. Janczarek I, Wiśniewska A, Tkaczyk E, Wnuk-Pawlak E, Kaczmarek B, Liss-Szczepanek M, Kędzierski W. Effect of Different Water Cooling Treatments on Changes in Rectal and Surface Body Temperature in Leisure Horses after Medium-Intensity Effort.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Feb 21;12(4).
      doi: 10.3390/ani12040525pubmed: 35203233google scholar: lookup
    2. Iimori M, Tamura N, Seki K, Kasashima Y. Relationship between the ultrasonographic findings of suspected superficial digital flexor tendon injury and the prevalence of subsequent severe superficial digital flexor tendon injuries in Thoroughbred horses: a retrospective study.. J Vet Med Sci 2022 Feb 23;84(2):261-265.
      doi: 10.1292/jvms.21-0028pubmed: 34937842google scholar: lookup
    3. O' Brien C, Pegg J. A Preliminary Investigation into Ridden Water Submersion Training as an Adjunct to Current Condition Training Protocols in Performance Horses.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Sep 7;11(9).
      doi: 10.3390/ani11092629pubmed: 34573594google scholar: lookup
    4. Hirschmüller A, Morath O. [Tendinopathies of the Achilles tendon].. Z Rheumatol 2021 Sep;80(7):629-640.
      doi: 10.1007/s00393-021-01006-2pubmed: 34287670google scholar: lookup
    5. Wearing SC, Kuhn L, Pohl T, Horstmann T, Brauner T. Transmission-Mode Ultrasound for Monitoring the Instantaneous Elastic Modulus of the Achilles Tendon During Unilateral Submaximal Vertical Hopping.. Front Physiol 2020;11:567641.
      doi: 10.3389/fphys.2020.567641pubmed: 33343380google scholar: lookup
    6. Katugam K, Cox SM, Salzano MQ, De Boef A, Hast MW, Neuberger T, Ryan TM, Piazza SJ, Rubenson J. Altering the Mechanical Load Environment During Growth Does Not Affect Adult Achilles Tendon Properties in an Avian Bipedal Model.. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020;8:994.
      doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00994pubmed: 32984280google scholar: lookup
    7. Bernabei M, Lee SSM, Perreault EJ, Sandercock TG. Shear wave velocity is sensitive to changes in muscle stiffness that occur independently from changes in force.. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2020 Jan 1;128(1):8-16.
      doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00112.2019pubmed: 31556833google scholar: lookup
    8. Newman HR, Bowles RD, Buckley MR. Viscoelastic heating of insulated bovine intervertebral disc.. JOR Spine 2018 Mar;1(1):e1002.
      doi: 10.1002/jsp2.1002pubmed: 31463434google scholar: lookup
    9. Alzola R, Easter C, Riggs CM, Gardner DS, Freeman SL. Ultrasonographic-based predictive factors influencing successful return to racing after superficial digital flexor tendon injuries in flat racehorses: A retrospective cohort study in 469 Thoroughbred racehorses in Hong Kong.. Equine Vet J 2018 Sep;50(5):602-608.
      doi: 10.1111/evj.12810pubmed: 29352495google scholar: lookup
    10. Wulf M, Shanker M, Schuetz M, Lutz M, Langton CM, Hooper SL, Smeathers JE, Brauner T, Wearing SC. Lower material stiffness in rupture-repaired Achilles tendon during walking: transmission-mode ultrasound for post-surgical tendon evaluation.. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 2018 Jul;26(7):2030-2037.
      doi: 10.1007/s00167-017-4624-5pubmed: 28660438google scholar: lookup
    11. Maeda E, Kimura S, Yamada M, Tashiro M, Ohashi T. Enhanced gap junction intercellular communication inhibits catabolic and pro-inflammatory responses in tenocytes against heat stress.. J Cell Commun Signal 2017 Dec;11(4):369-380.
      doi: 10.1007/s12079-017-0397-3pubmed: 28601938google scholar: lookup
    12. Lorimer AV, Hume PA. Stiffness as a Risk Factor for Achilles Tendon Injury in Running Athletes.. Sports Med 2016 Dec;46(12):1921-1938.
      doi: 10.1007/s40279-016-0526-9pubmed: 27194434google scholar: lookup
    13. Hatazoe T, Endo Y, Iwamoto Y, Korosue K, Kuroda T, Inoue S, Murata D, Hobo S, Misumi K. A study of the distribution of color Doppler flows in the superficial digital flexor tendon of young Thoroughbreds during their training periods.. J Equine Sci 2015;26(4):99-104.
      doi: 10.1294/jes.26.99pubmed: 26858574google scholar: lookup
    14. O'Neill S, Watson PJ, Barry S. WHY ARE ECCENTRIC EXERCISES EFFECTIVE FOR ACHILLES TENDINOPATHY?. Int J Sports Phys Ther 2015 Aug;10(4):552-62.
      pubmed: 26347394
    15. de Mattos LH, Álvarez LE, Yamada AL, Hussni CA, Rodrigues CA, Watanabe MJ, Alves AL. Effect of phototherapy with light-emitting diodes (890 nm) on tendon repair: an experimental model in sheep.. Lasers Med Sci 2015 Jan;30(1):193-201.
      doi: 10.1007/s10103-014-1641-1pubmed: 25150020google scholar: lookup
    16. Lorimer AV, Hume PA. Achilles tendon injury risk factors associated with running.. Sports Med 2014 Oct;44(10):1459-72.
      doi: 10.1007/s40279-014-0209-3pubmed: 24898814google scholar: lookup
    17. Pedowitz D, Kirwan G. Achilles tendon ruptures.. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med 2013 Dec;6(4):285-93.
      doi: 10.1007/s12178-013-9185-8pubmed: 24151122google scholar: lookup
    18. Rich T, Henderson LB, Becker DL, Cornell H, Patterson-Kane JC. Indicators of replicative damage in equine tendon fibroblast monolayers.. BMC Vet Res 2013 Sep 11;9:180.
      doi: 10.1186/1746-6148-9-180pubmed: 24025445google scholar: lookup
    19. Thevendran G, Sarraf KM, Patel NK, Sadri A, Rosenfeld P. The ruptured Achilles tendon: a current overview from biology of rupture to treatment.. Musculoskelet Surg 2013 Apr;97(1):9-20.
      doi: 10.1007/s12306-013-0251-6pubmed: 23546858google scholar: lookup
    20. Södersten F, Hultenby K, Heinegård D, Johnston C, Ekman S. Immunolocalization of collagens (I and III) and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein in the normal and injured equine superficial digital flexor tendon.. Connect Tissue Res 2013;54(1):62-9.
      doi: 10.3109/03008207.2012.734879pubmed: 23020676google scholar: lookup
    21. Jiang N, Wang B, Chen A, Dong F, Yu B. Operative versus nonoperative treatment for acute Achilles tendon rupture: a meta-analysis based on current evidence.. Int Orthop 2012 Apr;36(4):765-73.
      doi: 10.1007/s00264-011-1431-3pubmed: 22159659google scholar: lookup
    22. Daley MA, Biewener AA. Leg muscles that mediate stability: mechanics and control of two distal extensor muscles during obstacle negotiation in the guinea fowl.. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2011 May 27;366(1570):1580-91.
      doi: 10.1098/rstb.2010.0338pubmed: 21502128google scholar: lookup
    23. Thorpe CT, Streeter I, Pinchbeck GL, Goodship AE, Clegg PD, Birch HL. Aspartic acid racemization and collagen degradation markers reveal an accumulation of damage in tendon collagen that is enhanced with aging.. J Biol Chem 2010 May 21;285(21):15674-81.
      doi: 10.1074/jbc.M109.077503pubmed: 20308077google scholar: lookup
    24. Huang CY, Wang VM, Flatow EL, Mow VC. Temperature-dependent viscoelastic properties of the human supraspinatus tendon.. J Biomech 2009 Mar 11;42(4):546-9.
      doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2008.11.013pubmed: 19159888google scholar: lookup
    25. Fung DT, Wang VM, Laudier DM, Shine JH, Basta-Pljakic J, Jepsen KJ, Schaffler MB, Flatow EL. Subrupture tendon fatigue damage.. J Orthop Res 2009 Feb;27(2):264-273.
      doi: 10.1002/jor.20722pubmed: 18683881google scholar: lookup
    26. Egerbacher M, Arnoczky SP, Caballero O, Lavagnino M, Gardner KL. Loss of homeostatic tension induces apoptosis in tendon cells: an in vitro study.. Clin Orthop Relat Res 2008 Jul;466(7):1562-8.
      doi: 10.1007/s11999-008-0274-8pubmed: 18459026google scholar: lookup
    27. Wearing SC, Smeathers JE, Urry SR, Hennig EM, Hills AP. The pathomechanics of plantar fasciitis.. Sports Med 2006;36(7):585-611.
      doi: 10.2165/00007256-200636070-00004pubmed: 16796396google scholar: lookup
    28. Petersen W, Pufe T, Pfrommer S, Tillmann B. [Overload damage to the Achilles tendon: the importance of vascularization and angiogenesis].. Orthopade 2005 Jun;34(6):533-42.
      doi: 10.1007/s00132-005-0808-7pubmed: 15926081google scholar: lookup
    29. Maganaris CN, Narici MV, Almekinders LC, Maffulli N. Biomechanics and pathophysiology of overuse tendon injuries: ideas on insertional tendinopathy.. Sports Med 2004;34(14):1005-17.
      doi: 10.2165/00007256-200434140-00005pubmed: 15571430google scholar: lookup
    30. Kader D, Saxena A, Movin T, Maffulli N. Achilles tendinopathy: some aspects of basic science and clinical management.. Br J Sports Med 2002 Aug;36(4):239-49.
      doi: 10.1136/bjsm.36.4.239pubmed: 12145112google scholar: lookup
    31. Waterston SW, Maffulli N, Ewen SW. Subcutaneous rupture of the Achilles tendon: basic science and some aspects of clinical practice.. Br J Sports Med 1997 Dec;31(4):285-98.
      doi: 10.1136/bjsm.31.4.285pubmed: 9429005google scholar: lookup
    32. Archambault JM, Wiley JP, Bray RC. Exercise loading of tendons and the development of overuse injuries. A review of current literature.. Sports Med 1995 Aug;20(2):77-89.
      doi: 10.2165/00007256-199520020-00003pubmed: 7481284google scholar: lookup
    Subscribe to our newsletter
    Join 99,357 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.