CONTEXT: Achilles tendon rupture is often the result of a long-term degenerative process, frequently occurring asymptomatically. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of asymptomatic Achilles tendinopathy in an active, asymptomatic, young-adult population and to compare these findings across gender. DESIGN: Convenience sample, cohort study. SETTING: Research laboratory PARTICIPANTS: A sample of 52 (28 male, 24 female) healthy, active subjects were recruited from the student body at the University of Connecticut. Images of 104 Achilles tendons were made. INTERVENTION: Ultrasound images made with a Phillips HD11 with a 15-MHz real-time linear-array transducer were collected on both the longitudinal and transverse axes of the Achilles tendon. Activity level was measured with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Presence of ultrasound evidence of Achilles tendinopathy as agreed on by 2 blinded assessors highly skilled in ultrasonography. RESULTS: More subjects were categorized as highly active (57.4%) on the IPAQ-SF than moderately active (42.6%). One female and one male subject were found to have ultrasound evidence of asymptomatic Achilles tendinopathy, equaling 3.8% prevalence in this study. CONCLUSION: We found a low prevalence of asymptomatic Achilles tendinopathy in an active, young-adult population. Further work is necessary to identify an optimal group warranting ultrasound screening for asymptomatic tendinopathy.
CONTEXT: Achilles tendon rupture is often the result of a long-term degenerative process, frequently occurring asymptomatically. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of asymptomatic Achilles tendinopathy in an active, asymptomatic, young-adult population and to compare these findings across gender. DESIGN: Convenience sample, cohort study. SETTING: Research laboratory PARTICIPANTS: A sample of 52 (28 male, 24 female) healthy, active subjects were recruited from the student body at the University of Connecticut. Images of 104 Achilles tendons were made. INTERVENTION: Ultrasound images made with a Phillips HD11 with a 15-MHz real-time linear-array transducer were collected on both the longitudinal and transverse axes of the Achilles tendon. Activity level was measured with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Presence of ultrasound evidence of Achilles tendinopathy as agreed on by 2 blinded assessors highly skilled in ultrasonography. RESULTS: More subjects were categorized as highly active (57.4%) on the IPAQ-SF than moderately active (42.6%). One female and one male subject were found to have ultrasound evidence of asymptomatic Achilles tendinopathy, equaling 3.8% prevalence in this study. CONCLUSION: We found a low prevalence of asymptomatic Achilles tendinopathy in an active, young-adult population. Further work is necessary to identify an optimal group warranting ultrasound screening for asymptomatic tendinopathy.
Authors: Jennifer A Zellers; Bradley C Bley; Ryan T Pohlig; Nabeel Hamdan Alghamdi; Karin Grävare Silbernagel Journal: Int J Sports Phys Ther Date: 2019-09