Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

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 …