Dr. Adrian Kastler, from Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Gabriel-Montpied in France, and colleagues will present findings from a study that investigated both the viscous and elastic qualities of the Achilles tendon.
The researchers compared 26 abnormal tendons (16 unilateral and five bilateral tendinopathies) from 21 patients with Achilles tendinopathy and 176 normal tendons. They measured the mean shear-wave velocity on axial and sagittal shear-wave elastography images at 2° of passive ankle flexion.
Kastler's group found that abnormal Achilles tendons had lower mean shear-wave velocity and were softer than normal tendons, leading the researchers to conclude that using the technology may help clinicians evaluate the severity of tendinopathy.
