title: Correlation between power Doppler ultrasonography and clinical severity in Achilles tendinopathy.
abstract: Twenty-five patients with chronic Achilles tendinopathy were clinically and ultrasonographically evaluated. A positive correlation existed between power Doppler ultrasonography (PDU) and tendon thickness (r=0.63, p<0.001) and patient's age (r=0.40, p<0.05). A negative correlation existed between PDU and a functional test (number of toe raises to pain) (r=-0.57, p<0.005) and one recorded item of the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment Achilles score (VISA-A questionnaire, item 6: jumping capability) (r=-0.46, p<0.05). Three patients had no detectable blood flow on PDU. PDU of Achilles tendons does not seem to be strictly related to symptoms but rather to functionality and chronicity of tendinopathy as indicated by toe-raises testing, jumping capability, patient age and tendon thickening.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University Hospitals Leuven, Weligerveld 1, 3212 Pellenberg, Belgium. Koen.Peers@uz.kuleuven.ac.be
authors.forename: Koen H E
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Peers
authors.forename: Peter P M
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Brys
authors.forename: Roeland J J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Lysens
mesh_terms: D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex