The Free Achilles Tendon Is Shorter, Stiffer, Has Larger Cross-Sectional Area and Longer T2* Relaxation Time in Trained Middle-Distance Runners Compared to Healthy Controls
Tendon geometry and tissue properties are important determinants of tendon function and injury risk and are altered in response to ageing, disease, and physical activity levels. The purpose of this study was to compare free Achilles tendon geometry and mechanical properties between trained elite/sub...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Physiology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fphys.2020.00965/full |
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doaj-1eab2fc93ec3450a9c83ffeeaa400bcb |
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Article |
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DOAJ |
| language |
English |
| format |
Article |
| sources |
DOAJ |
| author |
Daniel Devaprakash Daniel Devaprakash Steven J. Obst Steven J. Obst David G. Lloyd David G. Lloyd Rod S. Barrett Rod S. Barrett Ben Kennedy Ben Kennedy Iain Ball Kahlee L. Adams Tyler J. Collings Tyler J. Collings Giorgio Davico Giorgio Davico Adam Hunter Nicole Vlahovich David L. Pease Claudio Pizzolato Claudio Pizzolato |
| spellingShingle |
Daniel Devaprakash Daniel Devaprakash Steven J. Obst Steven J. Obst David G. Lloyd David G. Lloyd Rod S. Barrett Rod S. Barrett Ben Kennedy Ben Kennedy Iain Ball Kahlee L. Adams Tyler J. Collings Tyler J. Collings Giorgio Davico Giorgio Davico Adam Hunter Nicole Vlahovich David L. Pease Claudio Pizzolato Claudio Pizzolato The Free Achilles Tendon Is Shorter, Stiffer, Has Larger Cross-Sectional Area and Longer T2* Relaxation Time in Trained Middle-Distance Runners Compared to Healthy Controls Frontiers in Physiology free Achilles tendon magnetic resonance imaging freehand three-dimensional ultrasound trained middle-distance runners geometry Young’s modulus |
| author_facet |
Daniel Devaprakash Daniel Devaprakash Steven J. Obst Steven J. Obst David G. Lloyd David G. Lloyd Rod S. Barrett Rod S. Barrett Ben Kennedy Ben Kennedy Iain Ball Kahlee L. Adams Tyler J. Collings Tyler J. Collings Giorgio Davico Giorgio Davico Adam Hunter Nicole Vlahovich David L. Pease Claudio Pizzolato Claudio Pizzolato |
| author_sort |
Daniel Devaprakash |
| title |
The Free Achilles Tendon Is Shorter, Stiffer, Has Larger Cross-Sectional Area and Longer T2* Relaxation Time in Trained Middle-Distance Runners Compared to Healthy Controls |
| title_short |
The Free Achilles Tendon Is Shorter, Stiffer, Has Larger Cross-Sectional Area and Longer T2* Relaxation Time in Trained Middle-Distance Runners Compared to Healthy Controls |
| title_full |
The Free Achilles Tendon Is Shorter, Stiffer, Has Larger Cross-Sectional Area and Longer T2* Relaxation Time in Trained Middle-Distance Runners Compared to Healthy Controls |
| title_fullStr |
The Free Achilles Tendon Is Shorter, Stiffer, Has Larger Cross-Sectional Area and Longer T2* Relaxation Time in Trained Middle-Distance Runners Compared to Healthy Controls |
| title_full_unstemmed |
The Free Achilles Tendon Is Shorter, Stiffer, Has Larger Cross-Sectional Area and Longer T2* Relaxation Time in Trained Middle-Distance Runners Compared to Healthy Controls |
| title_sort |
free achilles tendon is shorter, stiffer, has larger cross-sectional area and longer t2* relaxation time in trained middle-distance runners compared to healthy controls |
| publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
| series |
Frontiers in Physiology |
| issn |
1664-042X |
| publishDate |
2020-08-01 |
| description |
Tendon geometry and tissue properties are important determinants of tendon function and injury risk and are altered in response to ageing, disease, and physical activity levels. The purpose of this study was to compare free Achilles tendon geometry and mechanical properties between trained elite/sub-elite middle-distance runners and a healthy control group. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to measure free Achilles tendon volume, length, average cross-sectional area (CSA), regional CSA, moment arm, and T2* relaxation time at rest, while freehand three-dimensional ultrasound (3DUS) was used to quantify free Achilles tendon mechanical stiffness, Young’s modulus, and length normalised mechanical stiffness. The free Achilles tendon in trained runners was significantly shorter and the average and regional CSA (distal end) were significantly larger compared to the control group. Mechanical stiffness of the free Achilles tendon was also significantly higher in trained runners compared to controls, which was explained by the group differences in tendon CSA and length. T2* relaxation time was significantly longer in trained middle-distance runners when compared to healthy controls. There was no relationship between T2* relaxation time and Young’s modulus. The longer T2* relaxation time in trained runners may be indicative of accumulated damage, disorganised collagen, and increased water content in the free Achilles tendon. A short free Achilles tendon with large CSA and higher mechanical stiffness may enable trained runners to rapidly transfer high muscle forces and possibly reduce the risk of tendon damage from mechanical fatigue. |
| topic |
free Achilles tendon magnetic resonance imaging freehand three-dimensional ultrasound trained middle-distance runners geometry Young’s modulus |
| url |
https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fphys.2020.00965/full |
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doaj-1eab2fc93ec3450a9c83ffeeaa400bcb2020-11-25T03:52:51ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physiology1664-042X2020-08-011110.3389/fphys.2020.00965532238The Free Achilles Tendon Is Shorter, Stiffer, Has Larger Cross-Sectional Area and Longer T2* Relaxation Time in Trained Middle-Distance Runners Compared to Healthy ControlsDaniel Devaprakash0Daniel Devaprakash1Steven J. Obst2Steven J. Obst3David G. Lloyd4David G. Lloyd5Rod S. Barrett6Rod S. Barrett7Ben Kennedy8Ben Kennedy9Iain Ball10Kahlee L. Adams11Tyler J. Collings12Tyler J. Collings13Giorgio Davico14Giorgio Davico15Adam Hunter16Nicole Vlahovich17David L. Pease18Claudio Pizzolato19Claudio Pizzolato20School of Allied Health Sciences, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, AustraliaGriffith Centre for Biomedical and Rehabilitation Engineering, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, AustraliaSchool of Allied Health Sciences, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, AustraliaSchool of Health, Medical, and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Bundaberg, QLD, AustraliaSchool of Allied Health Sciences, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, AustraliaGriffith Centre for Biomedical and Rehabilitation Engineering, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, AustraliaSchool of Allied Health Sciences, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, AustraliaGriffith Centre for Biomedical and Rehabilitation Engineering, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, AustraliaSchool of Allied Health Sciences, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, AustraliaQSCAN Radiology Clinics, Gold Coast, QLD, AustraliaPhilips Healthcare, Australia and New Zealand, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaAustralian Institute of Sport, Canberra, ACT, AustraliaSchool of Allied Health Sciences, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, AustraliaGriffith Centre for Biomedical and Rehabilitation Engineering, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, AustraliaDepartment of Industrial Engineering, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, ItalyMedical Technology Lab, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, ItalyAustralian Institute of Sport, Canberra, ACT, AustraliaAustralian Institute of Sport, Canberra, ACT, AustraliaAustralian Institute of Sport, Canberra, ACT, AustraliaSchool of Allied Health Sciences, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, AustraliaGriffith Centre for Biomedical and Rehabilitation Engineering, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, AustraliaTendon geometry and tissue properties are important determinants of tendon function and injury risk and are altered in response to ageing, disease, and physical activity levels. The purpose of this study was to compare free Achilles tendon geometry and mechanical properties between trained elite/sub-elite middle-distance runners and a healthy control group. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to measure free Achilles tendon volume, length, average cross-sectional area (CSA), regional CSA, moment arm, and T2* relaxation time at rest, while freehand three-dimensional ultrasound (3DUS) was used to quantify free Achilles tendon mechanical stiffness, Young’s modulus, and length normalised mechanical stiffness. The free Achilles tendon in trained runners was significantly shorter and the average and regional CSA (distal end) were significantly larger compared to the control group. Mechanical stiffness of the free Achilles tendon was also significantly higher in trained runners compared to controls, which was explained by the group differences in tendon CSA and length. T2* relaxation time was significantly longer in trained middle-distance runners when compared to healthy controls. There was no relationship between T2* relaxation time and Young’s modulus. The longer T2* relaxation time in trained runners may be indicative of accumulated damage, disorganised collagen, and increased water content in the free Achilles tendon. A short free Achilles tendon with large CSA and higher mechanical stiffness may enable trained runners to rapidly transfer high muscle forces and possibly reduce the risk of tendon damage from mechanical fatigue.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fphys.2020.00965/fullfree Achilles tendonmagnetic resonance imagingfreehand three-dimensional ultrasoundtrained middle-distance runnersgeometryYoung’s modulus |