title: Ultrasound-Based Tendon Micromorphology Predicts Mechanical Characteristics of Degenerated Tendons.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between tendon micro-morphology quantified from a sonogram and tendon mechanical characteristics measured in vivo. Nineteen adults (nine with unilateral Achilles tendinosis) participated. A commercial ultrasound scanner was used to capture longitudinal B-mode ultrasound images from the mid-portion of bilateral Achilles tendons and a custom image analysis program was used to analyze the spatial frequency content of manually defined regions of interest; in particular, the average peak spatial frequency of the regions of interest was acquired. In addition, a dynamometer and a motion analysis system indirectly measured the tendon mechanical (stiffness) and material (elastic modulus) properties. The peak spatial frequency correlated with tendon stiffness (r = 0.74, p = 0.02) and elastic modulus (r = 0.65, p = 0.05) in degenerated tendons, but not healthy tendons. This is the first study relating the mechanical characteristics of degenerated human Achilles tendon using a non-invasive micro-morphology analysis approach.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA. Electronic address: kulig@usc.edu.
authors.forename: Kornelia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kulig
authors.affiliation: Division of Physical Therapy, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: Yu-Jen
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomechanics, University School of Physical Education in Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Slawomir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Winiarski
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Systems Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.
authors.forename: Gregory R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Bashford
mesh_terms: D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000465:Algorithms; D003198:Computer Simulation; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Elastic modulus; Stiffness; Tendon mechanics; Tissue imaging