Patellar Tendon Properties and Lower Limb Function in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis versus Healthy Controls: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Objective. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) lead to inflammation in tendons and peritendinous tissues, but effects on biomechanical tendon function are unknown. This study investigated patellar tendon (PT) properties in stable, established RA and AS patients. Methods. We compared 18 RA patients (13 women, 59.0 ± 2.8 years, mean ± SEM) with 18 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (58.2 ± 3.2 years), and 12 AS patients (4 women, 52.9 ± 3.4 years) with 12 matched controls (54.5 ± 4.7 years). Assessments with electromyography, isokinetic dynamometry, and ultrasound included quadriceps muscle force and cross-sectional area (CSA), PT stiffness, and PT CSA. Additionally, measures of physical function and disease activity were performed. Results. PT stiffness and physical function were lower in RA and AS patients compared to healthy controls, without a significant difference in force production. PT CSA was significantly larger leading to reduction in Young's modulus (YM) in AS, but not in RA. Conclusion. The adverse changes in PT properties in RA and AS may contribute to their impaired physical function. AS, but not RA, leads to PT thickening without increasing PT stiffness, suggesting that PT thickening in AS is a disorganised repair process. Longitudinal studies need to investigate the time course of these changes and their response to exercise training.

Passive elongation of muscle fascicles in human muscles with short and long tendons

“…; Matschke et al. ; Grosset et al. ), we would expect that the contribution of fascicles to muscle‐tendon lengthening between distinct muscle‐tendon units in such populations would be similar to those observed in this study.…”

“…However, their activity levels were not quantified; nor were sedentary, more elite sportspeople or older adults included in this study for comparison. Although tendon stiffness has been shown to alter with aging, disease conditions, and exercise training (Reeves 2006;Seynnes et al 2009;Matschke et al 2013;Grosset et al 2014), we would expect that the contribution of fascicles to muscle-tendon lengthening between distinct muscle-tendon units in such populations would be similar to those observed in this study. However, further work in this area is warranted.…”

Challenges in creating dissectible anatomical 3D prints for surgical teaching

“…Advances in this area require knowledge of both engineering and a familiarity with the physical and biomechanical properties of each of the various human tissues. Although the biomechanical properties of some tissues have been reported (Sunderland & Bradley, 1961a;Sunderland, 1965;Diamant et al 1972;Mozersky et al 1972;Mow et al 1984;Mosler et al 1985;McBride et al 1988;Rydevik et al 1990;Millesi et al 1995;Driscoll et al 2002;Korhonen et al 2002;Maganaris, 2002;Lieber et al 2003;Currey, 2004;Liebschner, 2004;Phillips et al 2004;Imer et al 2009;Van Loocke et al 2009;Krasi nski et al 2010;Morrow et al 2010;Rossmann, 2010;Hole cek et al 2011;Topp & Boyd, 2012;Alkhouli et al 2013;Boyer et al 2013;Matschke et al 2013;Lackey et al 2014;Matsuhashi et al 2014;Ottenio et al 2015;Ugbolue et al 2015), a gap exists between this knowledge and its relation to 3D print engineering. This review serves to help address this gap by providing a primer on biomechanical properties of various tissues, an overview of required 3D printing materials, and a summary of the current opportunities and challenges in creating dissectible anatomical prints.…”

Late reconstruction of the patellar tendon in rheumatoid arthritis using bone-patellar tendon-bone allograft

“…The disease has been linked to tendons impairment due to either its progression or the treatment used to control the symptoms [2], [3]. Although it is rare, the patellar tendon, for instance, is prone to spontaneous rupture in rheumatoid arthritis [4].…”