Paula Chaves1, Daniela Simões2, Maria Paço1, Francisco Pinho1, José A Duarte3, Fernando Ribeiro4. 1. Department of Physiotherapy, CESPU, North Polytechnic Institute of Health, Gandra PRD, Portugal. 2. Department of Physiotherapy, Santa Maria Health School, Porto, Portugal. 3. Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure, Faculty of Sport of University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. 4. Institute for Research in Biomedicine (iBiMED), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the skin pressure needed to promote the macroscopic deformation of the asymptomatic patellar tendon and to verify if the pressure is associated with the individual's characteristics. METHODS: A descriptive laboratory study was performed with a convenience sample of 18 young, voluntary, and asymptomatic individuals of both sexes. A progressively increasing pressure was applied on the skin over the patellar tendon, through an instrument designed to perform and control the pressure upon an ultrasound probe; data were recorded and analyzed by 2 blind investigators. All statistical analyses were conducted considering α = 0.05. RESULTS: The average pressure needed to promote a macroscopic deformation of the patellar tendon was 1.12 ± 0.37 kg/cm2. Female sex and age were inversely but not significantly associated with the pressure performed. Sports practice, weight, height, body mass index, muscle mass, and subcutaneous thickness were positively but not significantly associated with the pressure executed. CONCLUSION: The average pressure needed to promote the macroscopic deformation of the patellar tendon was 1.12 ± 0.37 kg/cm2, which was not influenced by the characteristics of the participants.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the skin pressure needed to promote the macroscopic deformation of the asymptomatic patellar tendon and to verify if the pressure is associated with the individual's characteristics. METHODS: A descriptive laboratory study was performed with a convenience sample of 18 young, voluntary, and asymptomatic individuals of both sexes. A progressively increasing pressure was applied on the skin over the patellar tendon, through an instrument designed to perform and control the pressure upon an ultrasound probe; data were recorded and analyzed by 2 blind investigators. All statistical analyses were conducted considering α = 0.05. RESULTS: The average pressure needed to promote a macroscopic deformation of the patellar tendon was 1.12 ± 0.37 kg/cm2. Female sex and age were inversely but not significantly associated with the pressure performed. Sports practice, weight, height, body mass index, muscle mass, and subcutaneous thickness were positively but not significantly associated with the pressure executed. CONCLUSION: The average pressure needed to promote the macroscopic deformation of the patellar tendon was 1.12 ± 0.37 kg/cm2, which was not influenced by the characteristics of the participants.
Authors: Paula Chaves; Daniela Simões; Maria Paço; Francisco Pinho; José Alberto Duarte; Fernando Ribeiro Journal: Musculoskelet Sci Pract Date: 2017-09-14 Impact factor: 2.520