Ultrasound Imaging of the Abdominal Wall and Trunk Muscles in Patients with Achilles Tendinopathy versus Healthy Participants

• Published in: Diagnostics (Basel) 2019-12, Vol.10 (1), p.17
• Main Authors: Romero-Morales, Carlos, Martín-Llantino, Pedro, Calvo-Lobo, César, San-Antolín, Marta, López-López, Daniel, Blanco-Morales, María, Rodríguez-Sanz, David
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abdomen; achilles tendinopathy; Back pain; Connective tissue; Morphology; musculoskeletal disorders; Tendons; Ultrasonic imaging; ultrasonography
• ISSN: 2075-4418; 2075-4418
• DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics10010017

To compare and quantify with ultrasound imaging (USI) the inter-recti distance (IRD), rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), internal oblique (IO), transversus abdominis (TrAb), and multifidus thickness and the RA and multifidus cross-sectional area (CSA) between individuals with and without chronic mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy (AT). A cross-sectional study. A sample of 143 patients were recruited and divided into two groups: A group comprised of chronic mid-portion AT ( = 71) and B group composed of healthy subjects ( = 72). The IRD, RA, EO, IO, TrAb, and multifidus thickness, as well as RA and multifidus CSA, were measured by USI. USI measurements for the EO ( = 0.001), IO ( = 0.001), TrAb ( = 0.041) and RA ( = 0.001) thickness were decreased as well as IRD ( = 0.001) and multifidus thickness ( = 0.001) and CSA ( = 0.001) were increased for the tendinopathy group with respect the healthy group. Linear regression prediction models ( = 0.260 - 0.494; < 0.05) for the IRD, RA, EO, and IO thickness ( = 0.494), as well as multifidus CSA and thickness were determined by weight, height, BMI and AT presence. EO, IO, TrAb, and RA thickness was reduced and IRD, multifidus thickness and CSA were increased in patients with AT.