Direct Radiofrequency Application Improves Pain and Gait in Collagenase-Induced Acute Achilles Tendon Injury

Figure 5

SP and CGRP stained brown in high cellularity areas. RF-treated tissues stained less SP and CGRP than tendons without RF ((a) and (b)). SP and CGRP expression were significantly reduced in RF-treated tendons ((c) and (d), 𝑛=5, 𝑃<0.05 and 𝑃<0.001, resp.). Pain markers expression were gradually reduced; on days 9, 11, 13, and 15 for SP, and days 11, 13, and 15 for CGRP ((c) and (d), ^∗𝑃<0.05, ^∗∗𝑃<0.001, ^∗∗∗𝑃<0.0001). Blood vessels stained darker than matrix (arrows). Magnification, 200x; scale bar, 100 μm.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)