Biomechanics and Movement Science Program, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA.
Department of Physical Therapy, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA.
Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2024 Aug;34(8):e14712. doi: 10.1111/sms.14712.
Patellar tendinopathy is more prevalent in males versus female athletes and commonly presents in the medial region of the tendon. Separate measures of patellar tendon strain in the medial, central, and lateral regions of the tendon, however, have not been quantified. The purpose was to investigate the differences in tendon strain between the medial, lateral, and central regions of the patellar tendon in healthy men and women. Strain in the medial and lateral regions of the patellar tendon in healthy participants (10 males, 10 females) was evaluated using ultrasound during isometric quadriceps contractions at 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% of maximum voluntary contraction (MVIC) in 60° and 90° of knee flexion. Central strain was also measured at 60% MVIC in 90° of knee flexion. Mixed models were used to determine strain between tendon regions and sex at 60% MVIC in 90° of knee flexion. Sequential modeling was used to fit region, sex, %MVIC, and angle to predict strain. The central region had less strain compared with both medial and lateral regions. The lateral region had higher strain compared with the medial region regardless of sex. Females had higher strain compared with males, regardless of region. Knee position did not influence tendon strain. Patellar tendon strain differs by region and sex. The varying prevalence between sex and in location of patellar tendinopathy may in part be explained by the unbalanced strains. Differential assessment of regional patellar tendon strain may be of importance for understanding injury risk and recovery with exercise.
髌腱病在男性运动员中比女性更为常见，通常发生在腱的内侧区域。然而，髌腱在腱的内侧、中央和外侧区域的单独应变测量尚未量化。目的是研究健康男性和女性髌腱在腱的内侧、外侧和中央区域的应变差异。使用超声在 60°和 90°膝关节弯曲下，在 20%、40%、60%、80%和 100%最大自主收缩（MVIC）时评估健康参与者（10 名男性，10 名女性）髌腱的内侧和外侧区域的应变。在 90°膝关节弯曲下，还在 60%MVIC 时测量中央应变。混合模型用于确定在 90°膝关节弯曲下 60%MVIC 时的肌腱区域和性别之间的应变。顺序建模用于拟合区域、性别、%MVIC 和角度以预测应变。与内侧和外侧区域相比，中央区域的应变较小。无论性别如何，外侧区域的应变均高于内侧区域。女性的应变高于男性，与区域无关。膝关节位置不影响肌腱应变。髌腱应变因区域和性别而异。髌腱病在性别和位置上的不同患病率部分可能归因于不平衡的应变。对髌腱的区域性应变进行差异化评估可能对于了解运动时的受伤风险和恢复很重要。
