Couppé C, Suetta C, Kongsgaard M, Justesen L, Hvid L G, Aagaard P, Kjær M, Magnusson S P
Institute of Sports Medicine, Bispebjerg Hospital and Center for Healthy Aging, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Physical Therapy, Bispebjerg Hospital, Denmark.
Clin Biomech (Bristol). 2012 Nov;27(9):949-54. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2012.06.003. Epub 2012 Jul 5.
It remains unknown if inactivity changes the mechanical properties of the human patellar tendon in younger and older healthy persons. The purpose was to examine the effects of short-term unilateral immobilization on the structural and mechanical properties of the patellar tendon in older men and younger men, in vivo.
Eight older men and eight younger men underwent 14 days of unilateral immobilization. All individuals were assessed on both sides before and after the intervention. MRI was used to assess whole patellar tendon dimensions. The mechanical properties of the patellar tendon were assessed using simultaneous force and ultrasonographic measurements during isometric ramp contractions.
In older men, tendon stiffness [Pre: mean 2949 (SD 799) vs. Post: mean 2366 (SD 774) N mm(-1), P<0.01] and Young's Modulus [Pre: mean 1.2 (SD 0.3) vs. Post: mean 1.0 (SD 0.3) GPa, P<0.05] declined with immobilization on the immobilized side. On the control side, tendon stiffness [Pre: mean 3340 (SD 1209) vs. Post: mean 2230 (SD 503), P<0.01] and Young's Modulus [Pre: mean 1.5 (SD 0.4) vs. Post: mean 0.9 (SD 0.3) GPa, P<0.05] also decreased with immobilization. In younger men, tendon stiffness [Pre: 3622 (SD 1760) vs. Post: mean 2910 (SD 1528) N mm(-1), P<0.01] and Young's Modulus [Pre: mean 1.7 (SD 1.1) vs. Post: mean 1.4 (SD 0.8) GPa, P<0.05] decreased only on the immobilized side.
Short-term immobilization led to impaired mechanical properties of the patellar tendon on the immobilized side in both younger men and older men, which can influence the function of the muscle-tendon complex.
在年轻和年长的健康人群中，缺乏运动是否会改变人类髌腱的力学特性尚不清楚。目的是在体内研究短期单侧制动对老年男性和年轻男性髌腱结构和力学特性的影响。
8名老年男性和8名年轻男性接受了14天的单侧制动。在干预前后对所有个体的双侧进行评估。使用MRI评估髌腱整体尺寸。在等长斜坡收缩期间，通过同时测量力和超声来评估髌腱的力学特性。
在老年男性中，制动侧的肌腱刚度[术前：平均2949（标准差799）对术后：平均2366（标准差774）N/mm，P<0.01]和杨氏模量[术前：平均1.2（标准差0.3）对术后：平均1.0（标准差0.3）GPa，P<0.05]随制动而下降。在对照侧，肌腱刚度[术前：平均3340（标准差1209）对术后：平均2230（标准差503），P<0.01]和杨氏模量[术前：平均1.5（标准差0.4）对术后：平均0.9（标准差0.3）GPa，P<0.05]也随制动而降低。在年轻男性中，仅制动侧的肌腱刚度[术前：3622（标准差1760）对术后：平均2910（标准差1528）N/mm，P<0.01]和杨氏模量[术前：平均1.7（标准差1.1）对术后：平均1.4（标准差0.8）GPa，P<0.05]下降。
短期制动导致年轻男性和老年男性制动侧的髌腱力学特性受损，这可能会影响肌腱复合体的功能。
