Trainingsadaptation der Achillessehne beim Hochleistungssportler – sonografische Grenzwerte für Achillessehnen

Abstract

For the first time, valid data of Achilles tendon diameters in competitive athletes and normal individuals have been presented. The emerging pattern of results clearly contradicts the notion of a physiological training adaptation of the Achilles tendon.

Tendon Adaptation to Sport-specific Loading in Adolescent Athletes

“…Having a test-retest variability of at least 3-5 % in mind, it remains open if these small changes are of clinical interest [2,5]. Several authors discuss that an AT thickness over 6 mm and PT thickness over 4 mm among women and 4.2 mm among men could be interpreted as an early sign of degeneration due to tendinopathy [12,13,25]. In the present study, approximately 20 % of AT in adolescent athletes were thicker than 6 mm at the 'midportion' area.…”

“…Structurally changed tendons with hypoechogenicity or neovascularization are known to have an increased risk of developing clinical symptoms [6,13,26]. Local tendon thickening has also been shown to be an indicator of tendinopathy [12,13]. The physiologic diameter of a healthy adult AT is reported between 4 to 6 mm [5,13].…”

“…Kouvinen-Niemelä & Parkkola (1995) presented mean values of 6 mm in 10-to 17-year-old healthy individuals [17]. Additionally, the influence of sport-specific loading on tendon thickness is controversially discussed [12,15]. It is unclear whether thickness adaptation to repetitive loading exists or not [19,31].…”

“…Nevertheless, the borderline between degenerative and physiologic alterations according to higher loads in athletes is fluent and differs by individual. Hence, it may be possible that higher tendon thickness in athletes is also associated with a higher susceptibility to the development of tendinopathy [12]. The long-term effect of training on tendons in different age groups during growth has not been established [10].…”