Video-based walking track systems have been developed for gait analysis in rat models. However, there is no previous study using video-based tracking systems to address the gait parameters to evaluate the recovery of Achilles tendon rupture models. This study conducted a comprehensive gait analysis using a video-based image processing system. Eighteen Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to one of three interventional conditions: sham surgery, Achilles tendon repair, and Achilles tendon defect. After surgery, all animals were evaluated using a video-based walking track system. The gait parameters and the Achilles functional index (AFI) were further analyzed. The ankle joint angles of the injury side at mid-stance and pre-swing were highly correlated with the AFI. However, lack of sensitivity was found for the AFI. Increased measurement sensitivity of the Achilles tendon healing condition was found in the ankle joint angle of the involved side at the pre-swing and the level of asymmetry of the hindlimb joint position and stance/swing time. The overall sensitivity of the ankle motion analysis was significantly higher than that of AFI. We conclude that the ankle motion analysis is a reliable, reproducible, and sensitive tool for Achilles tendon analysis in rats.
Far-infrared ray (FIR) has been applied to promote growth, modulate sleep, speed up the healing of wounds and accelerate microcirculation. The action of FIR on wounds has been well established in previous studies. However, whether the same action also works on normal skin is unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of FIR exposure on the tensile strength (TS) and composition of unwounded skin. In this study, 84 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into control and FIR groups. The dorsum samples were harvested for mechanical testing and histological observation at one, two, four and six weeks. The TS in the control group had no significant difference for all durations. However, a steep increase in the TS occurred between one and two weeks (P = 0.033) in the FIR group. The TS in the FIR group was found to be significantly higher than the TS in the control group at two weeks (P = 0.049). From histological observation, capillary dilation and increased inflammatory cells around the capillaries were observed at one week in FIR-treated groups. However, the mild inflammatory changes vanished after two weeks. In conclusion, our results showed that FIR may induce inflammatory changes and enhance skin TS in the short term, but the effect diminished with time.
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