Acute effects of intramuscular aponeurotomy and tenotomy on multi-tendoned rat EDL: Indications for local adaptation of intramuscular connective tissue

Intervention with the continuity of the tendon and part of the muscle fibers allows investigation of myofascial force transmission. The present study investigates the effects of proximal aponeurotomy on length-force characteristics and the geometry of the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle, and compares those effects with the effects of both distal tenotomy (TT) and intramuscular fasciotomy (IF) of the EDL. After proximal aponeurotomy, the intramuscular connective tissue ruptured spontaneously below the location of intervention. Due to this rupturing, a gap developed within the proximal aponeurosis. The fibers that were continuous with the tendon at only one end were substantially shorter than before the intervention. Optimum muscle force was reduced by 29%. After distal TT (of heads II-IV) a gap developed within the muscle belly. This gap increased at higher muscle lengths. However, the length of the gap was much smaller than after aponeurotomy. Despite the TT-related gap, there was no rupturing of intramuscular connective tissue at the interface between heads IV and V, as there was after proximal aponeurotomy. The effects of TT on length-force characteristics and on lengths of fibers continuous with the tendon at only one end were much less compared to the effects of aponeurotomy. Subsequent IF for two-thirds the length of the interface between heads IV and V resulted in changes similar to the effects of proximal aponeurotomy plus rupture. The contrast regarding the occurrence of intramuscular connective tissue rupture indicates increased failure strength of the intramuscular connective tissue at distal locations. It is hypothesized that for multitendoned muscles in vivo, local shear and stress deformations will initiate local adaptation of the intramuscular connective tissue. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.