Journal of Applied Physiology Ad Instruments
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

J Appl Physiol (June 12, 2008). doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.90361.2008
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF) Free
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
105/3/805    most recent
90361.2008v1
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Couppe, C.
Right arrow Articles by Magnusson, S P.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Couppe, C.
Right arrow Articles by Magnusson, S P.
Submitted on March 4, 2008
Revised on June 6, 2008
Accepted on June 11, 2008

Habitual loading results in tendon hypertrophy and increased stiffness of the human patellar tendon

Christian Couppe1, Mads Kongsgaard2, Per Aagaard3, Phillip Hansen2, Jens Bojsen-Moller2, Michael Kjaer2, and S Peter Magnusson4*

1 Institute of Sportsmedicine-Copenhagen
2 Institute of Sports Medicine Copenhagen
3 University of Southern Denmark
4 University of Copenhagen

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: p.magnusson{at}mfi.ku.dk.

Purpose: To examine patellar tendon (PT) size and mechanical properties in subjects with a side to side strength difference of ≥ 15 % due to sport induced loading. Material and Methods: Seven elite fencers & badminton players were included. Cross-sectional area (CSA) of the PT were obtained from sagital MRI, and ultrasonography based measurement of tibial and patellar movement together with PT force during isometric contractions were used to estimate mechanical properties of the PT bilaterally. Results: Distal and proximal tendon, but not mid-tendon CSA were greater on the lead extremity compared to the non-lead extremity (distal: 139±11 mm2 vs. 116±7 mm2; mid-tendon: 85±5 mm2 vs. 77±3 mm2; proximal 106±7 mm2 vs. 83±4 mm2; P<0.05). Distal tendon CSA was greater than proximal and mid-tendon CSA on both the lead and non-lead extremity (P<0.05). For a given common force, stress was lower on the lead extremity (52.9±4.8 MPa) compared to the non-lead extremity (66.0±8.0 MPa)(P<0.05). PT stiffness was also higher in the lead extremity (4766±716 N mm-1) compared to the non-lead extremity (3494±446 N mm-1) (P<0.05) while the modulus did not differ (lead 2.27±0.27 GPa vs. non-lead 2.16±0.28 GPa) at a common force. Conclusion: These data show that a habitual loading is associated with a significant increase in patellar tendon size and mechanical properties.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
C. Couppe, P. Hansen, M. Kongsgaard, V. Kovanen, C. Suetta, P. Aagaard, M. Kjaer, and S. P. Magnusson
Mechanical properties and collagen cross-linking of the patellar tendon in old and young men
J Appl Physiol, September 1, 2009; 107(3): 880 - 886.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
O. R. Seynnes, R. M. Erskine, C. N. Maganaris, S. Longo, E. M. Simoneau, J. F. Grosset, and M. V. Narici
Training-induced changes in structural and mechanical properties of the patellar tendon are related to muscle hypertrophy but not to strength gains
J Appl Physiol, August 1, 2009; 107(2): 523 - 530.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH
Visit Other APS Journals Online
Copyright © 1948 by the American Physiological Society.