Data from: Changes in morphological and elastic properties of patellar tendon in athletes with unilateral patellar tendinopathy and their relationships with pain and functional disability

Background: Patellar tendinopathy (PT) is one of the most common knee disorders among athletes. Changes in morphology and elasticity of the painful tendon and how these relate to the self-perceived pain and dysfunction remain unclear. Objectives: To compare the morphology and elastic properties of patellar tendons between athlete with and without unilateral PT and to examine its association with self-perceived pain and dysfunction. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 33 male athletes (20 healthy and 13 with unilateral PT) were enrolled. The morphology and elastic properties of the patellar tendon were assessed by the grey and elastography mode of supersonic shear imaging (SSI) technique while the intensity of pressure pain, self-perceived pain and dysfunction were quantified with a 10-lb force to the most painful site and the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-patella (VISA-P) questionnaire, respectively. Results: In athletes with unilateral PT, the painful tendons had higher shear elastic modulus (SEM) and larger tendon than the non-painful side (p<0.05) or the dominant side of the healthy athletes (p<0.05). Significant correlations were found between tendon SEM ratio (SEM of painful over non-painful tendon) and the intensity of pressure pain (rho = 0.62; p = 0.024), VISA-P scores (rho = −0.61; p = 0.026), and the sub-scores of the VISA-P scores on going down stairs, lunge, single leg hopping and squatting (rho ranged from −0.63 to −0.67; p<0.05). Conclusions: Athletes with unilateral PT had stiffer and larger tendon on the painful side than the non-painful side and the dominant side of healthy athletes. No significant differences on the patellar tendon morphology and elastic properties were detected between the dominant and non-dominant knees of the healthy control. The ratio of the SEM of painful to non-painful sides was associated with pain and dysfunction among athletes with unilateral PT.

背景：髌腱病（Patellar tendinopathy, PT）是运动员群体中最常见的膝关节疾患之一。目前，疼痛髌腱的形态学与弹性变化，以及此类变化与自我感知疼痛和功能障碍之间的关联仍不明确。研究目的：对比单侧髌腱病运动员与健康运动员的髌腱形态学与弹性特性，并探讨其与自我感知疼痛和功能障碍的关联。研究方法：本项横断面研究共纳入33名男性运动员，其中健康者20名、单侧髌腱病患者13名。采用超音速剪切成像（supersonic shear imaging, SSI）技术的灰阶与弹性成像模式，对髌腱的形态学与弹性特性进行评估；分别通过以10磅力按压最痛部位量化压力痛觉强度，以及使用维多利亚体育学院髌腱评估（Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-patella, VISA-P）问卷，量化受试者的自我感知疼痛与功能障碍程度。研究结果：单侧髌腱病运动员的患侧髌腱剪切弹性模量（shear elastic modulus, SEM）更高、腱体体积更大，相较于其自身健侧（p<0.05）或健康运动员的优势侧膝（p<0.05）。患侧与健侧髌腱的SEM比值（患侧SEM/健侧SEM）与压力痛觉强度呈显著正相关（rho=0.62；p=0.024），与VISA-P总分呈显著负相关（rho=-0.61；p=0.026），且与VISA-P问卷中下楼、弓箭步、单腿跳与下蹲分项得分呈显著负相关（rho范围为-0.63至-0.67；p<0.05）。研究结论：单侧髌腱病运动员的患侧髌腱较其健侧及健康运动员的优势侧膝更僵硬、腱体体积更大。健康对照组的优势侧与非优势侧膝髌腱的形态学与弹性特性无显著差异。单侧髌腱病运动员的患侧与健侧髌腱SEM比值与其疼痛及功能障碍程度存在关联。