Effects of Strength Training on the Plantar Flexors' Properties After Achilles Tendon Rupture

Among the injuries that affect the Achilles tendon, rupture is one of the most frequent. This injury can generate functional, neuromuscular, and tendon deficits that can last for long periods or even be permanent. In the long term (i.e., more than a year after the injury), individuals present functional impairments related to the lower limb, deficits in the capacity to produce muscle force, as well as higher levels of muscle activation (as a compensatory response). Such changes may be due to injury adaptations in the plantar flexor muscles' architecture, which may have shorter, more pennate fibers, leading to reduced muscle thickness. Furthermore, the Achilles tendon may be elongated, with a greater cross-sectional area, presenting lower stiffness and quality (i.e., lower Young's modulus). Strength training can play an important role in recovering from Achilles tendon ruptures, as it pro