Mechanical properties and collagen fiber orientation of tendon in young and elderly

The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in the mechanical properties and collagen fiber orientation of tendon structures between young and elderly groups. The mechanical properties of tendon structures in medial gastrocnemius muscle were measured using ultrasonography during ramp an...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical biomechanics (Bristol) 2020-01, Vol.71, p.5-10
Main Authors: Ishigaki, Tomonobu, Kubo, Keitaro
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Echogenicity
Elongation
Hysteresis
Ultrasonography
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Summary:The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in the mechanical properties and collagen fiber orientation of tendon structures between young and elderly groups. The mechanical properties of tendon structures in medial gastrocnemius muscle were measured using ultrasonography during ramp and ballistic contractions. Tendon collagen fiber orientation was estimated from coefficient of variation (CV) of echogenicity on transverse ultrasonic images of Achilles tendon. Differences in elongation between ramp and ballistic contractions of elderly were significantly smaller than those of young group at 20–80% of MVC. During ramp contraction, hysteresis of elderly was significantly higher than that of young, whereas no difference in hysteresis during ballistic contraction was found between the two groups. Difference in hysteresis between ramp and ballistic contractions of elderly tended to be lower than that of young group. Mean echogenicity of elderly was significantly higher than that of young group, whereas no difference in CV of echogenicity was found between the two groups. These results suggest that smaller differences in elongation and hysteresis between ramp and ballistic contractions of elderly may be related to decreased water content within tendons. Furthermore, no difference in collagen fiber orientation of tendons was noted between the two groups. •Differences in tendon elongation and hysteresis between ramp and ballistic contractions of elderly were smaller than those of young group.•These results may be related to decreased water content within the tendons.•Collagen fiber orientation within the Achilles tendon was noted between young and elderly groups.
ISSN:0268-0033
1879-1271
DOI:10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2019.10.003