Patellar tendon mechanical properties change with gender, body mass index and quadriceps femoris muscle strength

Serkan Taş, Seval Yılmaz, Mehmet Ruhi Onur, Abdullah Ruhi Soylu, Onur Altuntaş, Feza Korkusuz, Serkan Taş, Seval Yılmaz, Mehmet Ruhi Onur, Abdullah Ruhi Soylu, Onur Altuntaş, Feza Korkusuz

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study is to assess the effect and correlation of gender, body mass index (BMI) and quadriceps femoris (QF) muscle strength on patellar tendon (PT) thickness and stiffness in healthy sedentary individuals.

Methods: This study was carried out with 67 (36 female, 31 male) healthy sedentary individuals between the ages of 18-44 (28.0 ± 7.5 years). The individuals included in the study were divided into two groups according to their gender and BMI (18.5<BMI<25 and 25<BMI). The body composition was determined with Tanita Body Composition Analyser. PT thickness and stiffness was measured with ACUSON S3000 Ultrasonography Device using 9L4 ultrasonography probe. QF concentric muscle strength of the individuals was measured with Biodex® System 4 Dynamometer at 60°/sec angular speed.

Results: It was found that PT stiffness was higher in males compared to females (p<0.001). It was found that PT stiffness was lower in obese individuals compared to individuals with normal weight (p = 0.017). A negative and weak correlation was found between BMI and PT stiffness (r = -0.26, p = 0.032), whereas a negative and moderate correlation was found between fat percentage and PT stiffness (r = -0.50, p<0.001). A moderate correlation was found between BMI and PT thickness (r = 0.54, p<0.001). It was found that peak torque at 60°/sec angular speed had a moderate correlation with PT stiffness (r = 0.44, p<0.001) and PT thickness (r = 0.45, p<0.001).

Conclusions: PT stiffness is correlated and affected by gender, BMI and QF muscle strength whereas PT thickness is correlated and affected only to BMI and QF muscle strength.

Keywords: Gender; Obesity; Patellar tendon stiffness; Quadriceps femoris muscle strength; Tendon thickness.

Copyright © 2016 Turkish Association of Orthopaedics and Traumatology. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Measurements of PT thickness were performed with determination of the distance between most superficial and deep aspects of PT at the inferior pole of patella.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The region between about 1 cm distal of patellar bone–tendon junction and 1 cm proximal of bone–tendon junction of tibia was used for PT stiffness measurement. A: 2D ultrasound image of the examined area, B: Shear elastic modulus of the PT was quantified by the elastography. The measurement was performed in the area between regions specified with black.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Scatter plots of the correlation analyses.

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