The Comparison of Achilles Tendon Viscoelastic Properties in Elite Runners and Soccer Players

Background: Tendon overuse injuries are an issue in elite footballers (soccer players) and may affect tendon function. Achilles and patellar tendinopathy are the most frequent pathologies. Tendon stiffness, the relationship between the force applied to a tendon and the displacement exerted, may help represent tendon function. Stiffness is affected by training and pathology. Nevertheless, information regarding this mechanical property is lacking for elite soccer athletes. Hypothesis: Achilles and patellar tendon stiffness assessed using myotonometric measurements will be greater in elite soccer athletes than in control participants. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Level of Evidence: Level 4. Methods: Forty-nine elite soccer athletes and 49 control participants were evaluated during the 2017 preseason. A handheld device was used to measure Achilles and patellar tendon stiffness. Dominant and nondominant limbs were assessed for both groups. Results: A significantly stiffer patellar tendon was found for both the dominant and the nondominant limb in the elite soccer athletes compared with the control group. Nevertheless, no differences were found in Achilles tendon stiffness between groups. When comparing between playing positions in soccer athletes, no significant differences were found for both tendons. Conclusion: Greater patellar tendon stiffness may be related to an improvement in force transmission during muscle contraction. On the other hand, it seems that after years of professional training, Achilles tendon stiffness does not change, conserving the storing-releasing function of elastic energy. The nonsignificant differences between positions may be attributable to the years of homogeneous training that the players underwent. Clinical Relevance: The present study shows another technique for measuring mechanical properties of tendons in soccer athletes that could be used in clinical settings. In the future, this technique may help clinicians choose the best exercise protocol to address impairments in tendon stiffness.

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Are asymptomatic ultrasound abnormalities in the achilles tendon of elite soccer players risk factors for symptoms one year later? a longitudinal cohort study

British Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1136/bjsm.2010.081554.21 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 45 (2) ◽

pp. e1-e1

Author(s):

S. Jhingan ◽

M. Perry ◽

G. O'Driscoll ◽

M. Ahmad ◽

N. Maffulli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Achilles Tendon ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Longitudinal Cohort Study ◽

Longitudinal Cohort ◽

One Year

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Viscoelastic properties of the Achilles tendon in vivo

SpringerPlus ◽

10.1186/2193-1801-2-212 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Jussi Peltonen ◽

Neil J Cronin ◽

Lauri Stenroth ◽

Taija Finni ◽

Janne Avela

Keyword(s):

Achilles Tendon ◽

Viscoelastic Properties

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Return to Play and Player Performance After Achilles Tendon Rupture in UEFA Professional Soccer Players: A Matched-Cohort Analysis of Players From 1999 to 2018

Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1177/23259671211024199 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (9) ◽

pp. 232596712110241

Author(s):

Enrico M. Forlenza ◽

Ophelie Z. Lavoie-Gagne ◽

Yining Lu ◽

Connor C. Diaz ◽

Jorge Chahla ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Achilles Tendon ◽

Tendon Rupture ◽

Performance Metrics ◽

Cohort Analysis ◽

Achilles Tendon Rupture ◽

Return To Play ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Professional Soccer ◽

The Mean ◽

Player Performance

Background: Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) is a potentially career-ending injury in professional athletes. Limited information exists regarding return to play (RTP) in professional soccer players after this injury. Purpose: To determine the RTP rate and time in professional soccer players after ATR and to evaluate player performance relative to matched controls. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: We evaluated 132 professional soccer players who suffered an ATR between 1999 and 2018. These athletes were matched 2:1 to uninjured controls by position, age, season of injury, seasons played, and height. We collected information on the date of injury, the date of RTP, and player performance metrics (minutes played, games played, goals scored, assists made, and points per game) from official team websites, public injury reports, and press releases. Changes in performance metrics for the 4 years after the season of injury were compared with metrics 1 season before injury. Univariate comparisons were performed using independent-sample, 2-group t tests and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests when normality of distributions was violated. Results: The mean age at ATR was 27.49 ± 4.06 years, and the mean time to RTP was 5.07 ± 2.61 months (18.19 ± 10.96 games). The RTP rate was 71% for the season after injury and 78% for return at any timepoint. Overall, 9% of the injured players experienced a rerupture during the study period. Compared with controls, the injured players played significantly less (-6.77 vs -1.81 games [ P < .001] and -560.17 vs -171.17 minutes [ P < .05]) and recorded fewer goals (-1.06 vs -0.29 [ P < .05]) and assists (-0.76 vs -0.02 [ P < .05]) during the season of their Achilles rupture. With the exception of midfielders, there were no significant differences in play time or performance metrics between injured and uninjured players at any postinjury timepoint. Conclusion: Soccer players who suffered an ATR had a 78% RTP rate, with a mean RTP time of 5 months. Injured players played less and demonstrated inferior performance during the season of injury. With the exception of midfielders, players displayed no significant differences in play time or performance during any of the 4 postinjury seasons.

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