Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Low Prevalence Of Patellar Tendon Abnormality And Low Incidence Of Patellar Tendinopathy In Female Collegiate Volleyball Players, Marcey Keefer Hutchison, Christopher Patterson, Tyler Cuddeford, Robert Dudley, Eric Sorenson, Jason Brumitt

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

The prevalence of patellar tendinopathy has been reported to be as high as 50% in elite male volleyball (VB) players; however, the rate of injury in female collegiate VB athletes is unknown. The purpose of this study was to 1) identify the prevalence of ultrasonographic evidence of patellar tendon abnormality at the start of the preseason in female collegiate VB players; 2) report the incidence of tendinopathy during the season; and 3) determine if the preseason presence of tendon abnormality is associated with onset of disease. One hundred and six female collegiate VB players had both patellar tendons imaged. Incidence …

Altered Tendon Characteristics And Mechanical Properties Associated With Insertional Achilles Tendinopathy, Ruth L. Chimenti, Adolph S. Flemister, Joshua Tome, James M. Mcmahon, Marie A. Flannery, Ying Xue, Jeff R. Houck

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

Study Design: Case-control laboratory study.

Objectives: To compare tendon characteristics (shape, composition) and mechanical properties (strain, stiffness) on the involved side of participants with insertional Achilles tendinopathy (IAT) to the uninvolved side and to controls, and to examine if severity of tendon pathology is associated with severity of symptoms during function.

Background: Despite the severity and chronicity of IAT, the quality of theoretical evidence available to guide the development of exercise interventions is low. While tendon pathology of midportion Achilles tendinopathy has been described, there are few studies specific to IAT.

Methods: Twenty individuals with unilateral IAT and 20 age- …

Influence Of Tendon Tears On Ultrasound Echo Intensity In Response To Loading, Kayt E. Frisch, David Marcu, Geoffrey S. Baer, Darryl G. Thelen, Ray Vanderby

Faculty Publications - Biomedical, Mechanical, and Civil Engineering

Acoustoelastic (AE) ultrasound image analysis is a promising non-invasive approach that uses load-dependent echo intensity changes to characterize stiffness of tendinous tissue. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether AE can detect localized changes in tendon stiffness due to partial and full-thickness tendon tears. Ovine infraspinatus tendons with different levels of damage (Intact, 33%, 66% and full thickness cuts initiated on the articular and bursal sides) were cyclically loaded in a mechanical testing system while cine ultrasound images were recorded. The load-induced changes in echo intensity on the bursal and articular side of the tendon were determined. Consistent …

Ultrasound Echo Is Related To Stress And Strain In Tendon, Sarah Duenwald, Hirohito Kobayashi, Kayt E. Frisch, Roderic Lakes, Ray Vanderby Jr.

Faculty Publications - Biomedical, Mechanical, and Civil Engineering

The mechanical behavior of tendons has been well studied in vitro. A noninvasive method to acquire mechanical data would be highly beneficial. Elastography has been a promising method of gathering in vivo tissue mechanical behavior, but it has inherent limitations. This study presents acoustoelasticity as an alternative ultrasound-based method of measuring tendon stress and strain by reporting a relationship between ultrasonic echo intensity (B-mode ultrasound image brightness) and mechanical behavior of tendon in vitro. Porcine digital flexor tendons were cyclically loaded in a mechanical testing system while an ultrasonic echo response was recorded. We report that echo intensity …