Abstract
Design Case-control study. Methods A total of 36 healthy subjects aged 19–25 were recruited. Subjects were categorized into frequent and infrequent exercise groups dependent on their level of lower limb weight bearing exercise. B-mode and shear-wave ultrasound examination of Achilles tendon were performed. Measurements of the Achilles tendon stiffness were conducted with the foot position standardized by an ankle fixer. To evaluate inter and intra-operator reliability of Young's modulus measurements, each subject was scanned by three operators and each operator scanned the subject three times. Results The intra-operator reliability of Young's modulus measurements ranged between 0.803 and 0.845. The inter-operator measurement reliability was 0.585. Result showed that Achilles tendon on non-dominant ankle in frequent-exercisers (median: 320.1 kPa) was significantly stiffer than that in infrequent-exercisers (median: 296 kPa) (p < 0.05), whereas there was no significant difference in Achilles tendon stiffness on dominant ankle between the two groups (p > 0.05). Conclusions Shear wave elastography is feasible for assessing the Achilles tendon's stiffness in vivo. The stiffness of Achilles tendon of frequent-exercisers was significantly higher than that of infrequent-exercisers on non-dominant ankle but not on dominant ankle. With the use of an ankle fixer, there was high repeatability and moderate reproducibility in SWE measurement of Achilles tendon stiffness.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 883-887 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport |
Volume | 19 |
Issue number | 11 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Nov 2016 |
Keywords
- Elastic modulus
- Elasticity imaging techniques
- Exercise physiology
- Physical activity
- Ultrasonography
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
- Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation