title: Alpine Skiing With total knee ArthroPlasty (ASWAP): effect on tendon properties.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of alpine skiing on patellar tendon properties in patients with total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Thirty-one adults (70.4 ± 4.7 years) with unilateral TKA were recruited 2.7 ± 0.9 years after surgery and assigned to an intervention (IG) or a control group (CG). The IG underwent a 12-week guided skiing program. Tendon stiffness, Young's modulus, and cross-sectional area (CSA) were measured before and after the intervention. In both groups, mean tendon CSA was 28% (P < 0.001) larger in the operated (OP) than in the non-operated (NOP) leg at baseline, without any difference in other tendon properties. After training, stiffness increased in the IG by 5.8% and 15.8%, respectively, in the OP and NOP legs. Likewise, mean CSA increased in the IG by 2.9% in the OP and 3.8% in the NOP leg, whereas no significant changes were found for the Young's modulus. None of the tendon parameters changed in the CG. Results indicate that patellar tendon structure and/or loading pattern are altered following TKA, but this tissue seems to retain its adaptation capacity. Further, alpine skiing appears to offer a suitable rehabilitation strategy for TKA patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport Science and Kinesiology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kösters
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport Science and Kinesiology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rieder
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport Science and Kinesiology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: H-P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Wiesinger
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic University Clinic, PMU Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dorn
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic University Clinic, PMU Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hofstaedter
authors.affiliation: Sportsclinic Austria, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fink
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport Science and Kinesiology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.affiliation: Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: O R
authors.initials: OR
authors.lastname: Seynnes
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000368:Aged; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D055119:Elastic Modulus / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000601:surgery*; D017847:Patellar Ligament / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D012865:Skiing; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: Mechanical properties; material properties; tendon cross-sectional area; ultrasonography