Reduced patellar tendon elasticity with aging: In vivo assessment by shear wave elastography
Journal
Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology
Journal Volume
41
Journal Issue
11
Pages
2899-2905
Date Issued
2015
Author(s)
Abstract
How aging affects the elasticity of tendons has long been debated, partly because of the limited methods for in vivo evaluation, which differ vastly from those for in vitro animal studies. In this study, we tested the reliability of shear wave elastography (SWE) in the evaluation of patellar tendons and their change in elasticity with age. We recruited 62 healthy participants in three age groups: 20-30 years (group 1), 40-50 years (group 2) and 60-70 years (group 3). Shear wave velocity and elastic modulus were measured at the proximal, middle and distal areas of the patellar tendon. Reliability was excellent at the middle area and fair to good at both ends. Compared with the other groups, group 3 had significantly decreased elastic modulus and shear wave velocity values (p ? 0.001 vs. group 1 or 2), with significant increased side-to-side differences. SWE may be valuable in detecting aging tendons before visible abnormalities are observed on B-mode ultrasonography. ? 2015 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology.
SDGs
Other Subjects
Acoustic wave velocity; Aging of materials; Elastic moduli; Elasticity; Medical imaging; Shear flow; Shear waves; Ultrasonics; Wave propagation; Age groups; Animal studies; Elastography; In-vitro; In-vivo; Patellar Tendon; Shear wave elastography; Shear wave velocity; Tendons; adult; age distribution; aged; Article; body height; body weight; elastography; female; human; human experiment; in vivo study; male; normal human; patella ligament; priority journal; reliability; reproducibility; sex difference; sex ratio; shear wave elastography; shear wave velocity; thickness; velocity; Young modulus; age; aging; echography; elasticity; middle aged; patellar ligament; pathophysiology; physiology; sensitivity and specificity; young adult; Young modulus; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Aging; Elastic Modulus; Elasticity; Elasticity Imaging Techniques; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Patellar Ligament; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; Young Adult
Publisher
Elsevier USA
Type
journal article