Semitendinosus snapping: analysis of movement, electromyographic activities, muscle strength and endurance, motor control and joint position sense

Abstract

A female ballet with a history of two-years of semitendinosus (ST) snapping was assessed. On physical examination snapping was observed during hyperextension of the knee. Neither any history of trauma nor treatment was recalled. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), movement analysis, onset timing of ST and Bisceps Femoris (BF), motor control, isokinetic muscle strength and endurance, joint position sense (JPS) were assessed. The MRI findings were normal. There were abnormal oscillations observed during hyperextension of the snapping knee compared to healthy side. There were no isokinetic muscle strength nor do muscle endurance differences. The motor control and JPS deficits were greater on the snapping knee than the healthy side. ST onset timing was earlier than BF on the snapping side. Snapping of the semitendinosus tendon has an adverse affect on JPS, motor control and onset timing of the knee muscles.

Snapping Hamstring Tendons Case Report

“…A 14-year-old girl cross-country athlete initially presented to our sports medicine institute for right knee pain after stepping in a pothole and twisting her knee 2 days ago [1][2][3][4] . The pain was localized to the posteromedial aspect of the right knee.…”

Percutaneous Lengthening of a Regenerated Semitendinosus Tendon for Medial Hamstring Snapping

“…Snapping symptoms affect the lateral aspect of the knee in most cases, 2 and occurrence of snapping around the medial side of the joint is more uncommon 3 . The literature includes reports of snapping of the semitendinosus tendon alone 4 or in combination with semimembranosus tendons 5 or the gracilis tendon 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.…”