Shear Wave Tensiometry in the Evaluation of Achilles Tendon Loading: A Cross‐Sectional Study on Conservatively Treated Tendons After Rupture

ABSTRACT Purpose The aim of this study was to quantify differences in the shear wave speed (SWS) between a conservatively treated Achilles tendon (AT) after rupture and the unaffected contralateral tendon. Methods Twenty‐nine participants who received conservative treatment following Achilles tendon...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Alessandro Schneebeli, Giuseppe Filardo, Enrique Testa, Martin Riegger, Deborah Falla, Alessandro Sangiorgio, Corrado Cescon, Emiliano Soldini, Marco Barbero
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-06-01
Series:Journal of Foot and Ankle Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/jfa2.70047
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849425553062363136
author Alessandro Schneebeli
Giuseppe Filardo
Enrique Testa
Martin Riegger
Deborah Falla
Alessandro Sangiorgio
Corrado Cescon
Emiliano Soldini
Marco Barbero
author_facet Alessandro Schneebeli
Giuseppe Filardo
Enrique Testa
Martin Riegger
Deborah Falla
Alessandro Sangiorgio
Corrado Cescon
Emiliano Soldini
Marco Barbero
author_sort Alessandro Schneebeli
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Purpose The aim of this study was to quantify differences in the shear wave speed (SWS) between a conservatively treated Achilles tendon (AT) after rupture and the unaffected contralateral tendon. Methods Twenty‐nine participants who received conservative treatment following Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) were enrolled. Measurements were taken during a single follow‐up visit, which occurred between 1 and 7 years after the rupture. Tendon load was assessed using a shear wave tensiometer comprising a set of four accelerometers attached to the tendon. Stiffness, thickness, and cross‐sectional area (CSA) were also assessed using MyotonPRO and ultrasound imaging. Results No significant differences in SWS were found between the affected AT and the unaffected side when analyzing the entire group (p > 0.05). However, significant differences between sides were observed at 3.5 Nm and 7 Nm (p = 0.001 and p = 0.020) for participants that experienced a lesion of the mid tendon. Higher plantar flexor strength was found for the unaffected side (320 ± 99.5 Nm) compared to the affected side (261 ± 80 Nm; p = 0.001). Thickness and CSA in the proximal and distal part of the tendon were significantly higher in the affected tendon compared to the unaffected side (p < 0.001). Conclusion There is no difference in SWS values between the affected and the unaffected AT in the longer term after the rupture. However, differences in SWS were detected at specific contraction levels in participants with a mid‐tendon lesion. Moreover, tendon thickness and the cross‐sectional area, as well as plantar flexor strength, remain different between the affected and the unaffected AT.
format Article
id doaj-art-7285e378f1824a2ab2b0959a11e3f122
institution Kabale University
issn 1757-1146
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Journal of Foot and Ankle Research
spelling doaj-art-7285e378f1824a2ab2b0959a11e3f1222025-08-20T03:29:44ZengWileyJournal of Foot and Ankle Research1757-11462025-06-01182n/an/a10.1002/jfa2.70047Shear Wave Tensiometry in the Evaluation of Achilles Tendon Loading: A Cross‐Sectional Study on Conservatively Treated Tendons After RuptureAlessandro Schneebeli0Giuseppe Filardo1Enrique Testa2Martin Riegger3Deborah Falla4Alessandro Sangiorgio5Corrado Cescon6Emiliano Soldini7Marco Barbero8Centre of Precision Rehabilitation for Spinal Pain (CPR Spine) School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences College of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Birmingham Birmingham UKService of Orthopaedics and Traumatology Department of Surgery EOC Lugano SwitzerlandFaculty of Biomedical Sciences Università Della Svizzera Italiana Lugano SwitzerlandService of Orthopaedics and Traumatology Department of Surgery EOC Lugano SwitzerlandCentre of Precision Rehabilitation for Spinal Pain (CPR Spine) School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences College of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Birmingham Birmingham UKService of Orthopaedics and Traumatology Department of Surgery EOC Lugano SwitzerlandRehabilitation Research Laboratory 2rLab Department of Business Economics Health and Social Care University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland Manno SwitzerlandCompetence Centre for Healthcare Practices and Policies Department of Business Economics, Health, and Social Care University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland Manno SwitzerlandRehabilitation Research Laboratory 2rLab Department of Business Economics Health and Social Care University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland Manno SwitzerlandABSTRACT Purpose The aim of this study was to quantify differences in the shear wave speed (SWS) between a conservatively treated Achilles tendon (AT) after rupture and the unaffected contralateral tendon. Methods Twenty‐nine participants who received conservative treatment following Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) were enrolled. Measurements were taken during a single follow‐up visit, which occurred between 1 and 7 years after the rupture. Tendon load was assessed using a shear wave tensiometer comprising a set of four accelerometers attached to the tendon. Stiffness, thickness, and cross‐sectional area (CSA) were also assessed using MyotonPRO and ultrasound imaging. Results No significant differences in SWS were found between the affected AT and the unaffected side when analyzing the entire group (p > 0.05). However, significant differences between sides were observed at 3.5 Nm and 7 Nm (p = 0.001 and p = 0.020) for participants that experienced a lesion of the mid tendon. Higher plantar flexor strength was found for the unaffected side (320 ± 99.5 Nm) compared to the affected side (261 ± 80 Nm; p = 0.001). Thickness and CSA in the proximal and distal part of the tendon were significantly higher in the affected tendon compared to the unaffected side (p < 0.001). Conclusion There is no difference in SWS values between the affected and the unaffected AT in the longer term after the rupture. However, differences in SWS were detected at specific contraction levels in participants with a mid‐tendon lesion. Moreover, tendon thickness and the cross‐sectional area, as well as plantar flexor strength, remain different between the affected and the unaffected AT.https://doi.org/10.1002/jfa2.70047achilles tendon ruptureconservative treatmentshear wave tensiometrytendon loading
spellingShingle Alessandro Schneebeli
Giuseppe Filardo
Enrique Testa
Martin Riegger
Deborah Falla
Alessandro Sangiorgio
Corrado Cescon
Emiliano Soldini
Marco Barbero
Shear Wave Tensiometry in the Evaluation of Achilles Tendon Loading: A Cross‐Sectional Study on Conservatively Treated Tendons After Rupture
Journal of Foot and Ankle Research
achilles tendon rupture
conservative treatment
shear wave tensiometry
tendon loading
title Shear Wave Tensiometry in the Evaluation of Achilles Tendon Loading: A Cross‐Sectional Study on Conservatively Treated Tendons After Rupture
title_full Shear Wave Tensiometry in the Evaluation of Achilles Tendon Loading: A Cross‐Sectional Study on Conservatively Treated Tendons After Rupture
title_fullStr Shear Wave Tensiometry in the Evaluation of Achilles Tendon Loading: A Cross‐Sectional Study on Conservatively Treated Tendons After Rupture
title_full_unstemmed Shear Wave Tensiometry in the Evaluation of Achilles Tendon Loading: A Cross‐Sectional Study on Conservatively Treated Tendons After Rupture
title_short Shear Wave Tensiometry in the Evaluation of Achilles Tendon Loading: A Cross‐Sectional Study on Conservatively Treated Tendons After Rupture
title_sort shear wave tensiometry in the evaluation of achilles tendon loading a cross sectional study on conservatively treated tendons after rupture
topic achilles tendon rupture
conservative treatment
shear wave tensiometry
tendon loading
url https://doi.org/10.1002/jfa2.70047
work_keys_str_mv AT alessandroschneebeli shearwavetensiometryintheevaluationofachillestendonloadingacrosssectionalstudyonconservativelytreatedtendonsafterrupture
AT giuseppefilardo shearwavetensiometryintheevaluationofachillestendonloadingacrosssectionalstudyonconservativelytreatedtendonsafterrupture
AT enriquetesta shearwavetensiometryintheevaluationofachillestendonloadingacrosssectionalstudyonconservativelytreatedtendonsafterrupture
AT martinriegger shearwavetensiometryintheevaluationofachillestendonloadingacrosssectionalstudyonconservativelytreatedtendonsafterrupture
AT deborahfalla shearwavetensiometryintheevaluationofachillestendonloadingacrosssectionalstudyonconservativelytreatedtendonsafterrupture
AT alessandrosangiorgio shearwavetensiometryintheevaluationofachillestendonloadingacrosssectionalstudyonconservativelytreatedtendonsafterrupture
AT corradocescon shearwavetensiometryintheevaluationofachillestendonloadingacrosssectionalstudyonconservativelytreatedtendonsafterrupture
AT emilianosoldini shearwavetensiometryintheevaluationofachillestendonloadingacrosssectionalstudyonconservativelytreatedtendonsafterrupture
AT marcobarbero shearwavetensiometryintheevaluationofachillestendonloadingacrosssectionalstudyonconservativelytreatedtendonsafterrupture