| Title | Achilles Tendon Doppler Flow May Be Associated With Mechanical Load Among Active Athletes. | | Author(s) | Malliaras P, Richards PJ, Garau G, Maffulli N | | Institution | Brunel University. | | Source | Am J Sports Med 2008 Jul 1. | | Abstract | BACKGROUND: Tendon Doppler flow may be associated with tendon pain in symptomatic patients, but the relationship between Doppler flow and pain among athletes who are still competing is unclear.
HYPOTHESIS: Among active athletes, Doppler flow may partly reflect tendon adaptation to increased mechanical load and/or asymptomatic tendinopathy.
STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.
METHODS: The Achilles tendons of 61 badminton players (24 elite, 37 recreational) were examined with gray-scale and color Doppler ultrasound. Achilles tendon pain and activity level (badminton training, badminton playing, badminton years) were measured.
RESULTS: Doppler flow was not associated with current Achilles tendon pain but was associated with an increased anteroposterior tendon diameter (an indicator of tendinopathy) (P = .02). Athletes who had been playing badminton for longer were more likely to have Doppler flow (P < .01), and there was a trend toward an association between a greater number of badminton playing hours per week and Doppler flow (P = .07).
CONCLUSION: Achilles tendon Doppler flow appears to be a sign of asymptomatic tendinopathy rather than pain among active athletes. The association between weekly badminton hours and badminton years and Doppler flow suggests that Doppler flow may be a response to mechanical load in this cohort. | | Language | ENG | | Pub Type(s) | JOURNAL ARTICLE
| | PubMed ID | 18593843 |
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