Mechanical and Material Tendon Properties in Patients With Proximal Patellar Tendinopathy
IntroductionThe effect of chronic patellar tendinopathy on tissue function and integrity is currently unclear and underinvestigated. The aim of this cohort comparison was to examine morphological, material, and mechanical properties of the patellar tendon and to extend earlier findings by measuring...
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| Format: | Article |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Physiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fphys.2020.00704/full |
| _version_ | 1818772768117751808 |
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| author | Hans-Peter Wiesinger Olivier R. Seynnes Alexander Kösters Erich Müller Florian Rieder Florian Rieder |
| author_facet | Hans-Peter Wiesinger Olivier R. Seynnes Alexander Kösters Erich Müller Florian Rieder Florian Rieder |
| author_sort | Hans-Peter Wiesinger |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionThe effect of chronic patellar tendinopathy on tissue function and integrity is currently unclear and underinvestigated. The aim of this cohort comparison was to examine morphological, material, and mechanical properties of the patellar tendon and to extend earlier findings by measuring the ability to store and return elastic energy in symptomatic tendons.MethodsSeventeen patients with chronic (>3 months, VISA-P < 80), inferior pole patellar tendinopathy (24 ± 4 years; male = 12, female = 5) were carefully matched to controls (25 ± 3 years) for training status, pattern, and history of loading of the patellar tendon. Individual knee extension force, patellar tendon stiffness, stress, strain, Young’s modulus, hysteresis, and energy storage capacity, were obtained with combined dynamometry, ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging, and electromyography.ResultsAnthropometric parameters did not differ between groups. VISA-P scores ranged from 28 to 78 points, and symptoms had lasted from 10 to 120 months before testing. Tendon proximal cross-sectional area was 61% larger in the patellar tendinopathy group than in the control group. There were no differences between groups in maximal voluntary isometric knee extension torque (p = 0.216; d < −0.31) nor in tensile tendon force produced during isometric ramp contractions (p = 0.185; d < −0.34). Similarly, tendon strain (p = 0.634; d < 0.12), hysteresis (p = 0.461; d < 0.18), and strain energy storage (p = 0.656; d < 0.36) did not differ between groups. However, patellar tendon stiffness (−19%; p = 0.007; d < −0.74), stress (−27%; p< 0.002; d < −0.90) and Young’s modulus (−32%; p = 0.001; d < −0.94) were significantly lower in tendinopathic patients compared to healthy controls.DiscussionIn this study, we observed lower stiffness in affected tendons. However, despite the substantial structural and histological changes occurring with tendinopathy, the tendon capacity to store and dissipate energy did not differ significantly. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T10:14:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fe44d1d34d48460b9da8f10f2458e85a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-042X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T10:14:36Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Physiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-fe44d1d34d48460b9da8f10f2458e85a2022-12-21T21:11:21ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physiology1664-042X2020-06-011110.3389/fphys.2020.00704524151Mechanical and Material Tendon Properties in Patients With Proximal Patellar TendinopathyHans-Peter Wiesinger0Olivier R. Seynnes1Alexander Kösters2Erich Müller3Florian Rieder4Florian Rieder5Department of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, AustriaDepartment of Physical Performance, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, NorwayDepartment of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, AustriaDepartment of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, AustriaDepartment of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, AustriaInstitute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, AustriaIntroductionThe effect of chronic patellar tendinopathy on tissue function and integrity is currently unclear and underinvestigated. The aim of this cohort comparison was to examine morphological, material, and mechanical properties of the patellar tendon and to extend earlier findings by measuring the ability to store and return elastic energy in symptomatic tendons.MethodsSeventeen patients with chronic (>3 months, VISA-P < 80), inferior pole patellar tendinopathy (24 ± 4 years; male = 12, female = 5) were carefully matched to controls (25 ± 3 years) for training status, pattern, and history of loading of the patellar tendon. Individual knee extension force, patellar tendon stiffness, stress, strain, Young’s modulus, hysteresis, and energy storage capacity, were obtained with combined dynamometry, ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging, and electromyography.ResultsAnthropometric parameters did not differ between groups. VISA-P scores ranged from 28 to 78 points, and symptoms had lasted from 10 to 120 months before testing. Tendon proximal cross-sectional area was 61% larger in the patellar tendinopathy group than in the control group. There were no differences between groups in maximal voluntary isometric knee extension torque (p = 0.216; d < −0.31) nor in tensile tendon force produced during isometric ramp contractions (p = 0.185; d < −0.34). Similarly, tendon strain (p = 0.634; d < 0.12), hysteresis (p = 0.461; d < 0.18), and strain energy storage (p = 0.656; d < 0.36) did not differ between groups. However, patellar tendon stiffness (−19%; p = 0.007; d < −0.74), stress (−27%; p< 0.002; d < −0.90) and Young’s modulus (−32%; p = 0.001; d < −0.94) were significantly lower in tendinopathic patients compared to healthy controls.DiscussionIn this study, we observed lower stiffness in affected tendons. However, despite the substantial structural and histological changes occurring with tendinopathy, the tendon capacity to store and dissipate energy did not differ significantly.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fphys.2020.00704/fullpatellar tendinopathyVISA-Ptendon viscoelastic propertiestissue functiontissue integrity |
| spellingShingle | Hans-Peter Wiesinger Olivier R. Seynnes Alexander Kösters Erich Müller Florian Rieder Florian Rieder Mechanical and Material Tendon Properties in Patients With Proximal Patellar Tendinopathy Frontiers in Physiology patellar tendinopathy VISA-P tendon viscoelastic properties tissue function tissue integrity |
| title | Mechanical and Material Tendon Properties in Patients With Proximal Patellar Tendinopathy |
| title_full | Mechanical and Material Tendon Properties in Patients With Proximal Patellar Tendinopathy |
| title_fullStr | Mechanical and Material Tendon Properties in Patients With Proximal Patellar Tendinopathy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mechanical and Material Tendon Properties in Patients With Proximal Patellar Tendinopathy |
| title_short | Mechanical and Material Tendon Properties in Patients With Proximal Patellar Tendinopathy |
| title_sort | mechanical and material tendon properties in patients with proximal patellar tendinopathy |
| topic | patellar tendinopathy VISA-P tendon viscoelastic properties tissue function tissue integrity |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fphys.2020.00704/full |
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