Time to recovery of sciatic function index after induced tibialis anterior strain in rats

BACKGROUND: Muscle strain is a common injury with a high recurrence rate. Due to the heterogeneity of strain injuries, experimental animals provide controlled and reproducible models to investigate such injuries. Sciatic Function Index (SFI) is a clinically feasible method to assess hind limb recovery in rodents after induced injuries. OBJECTIVES: To investigate time to recovery of SFI after induced-strain in tibialis anterior (TA) muscle in rats. METHODS: days after strain induction. RESULTS: days (p= 0.012, 0.012, 0.012 and 0.028, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: day post-injury, which corresponds to the sub-acute phase of injury. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: V.