• Chaves P
• Simões D
• Paço M
• Pinho F
• Duarte JA
• Ribeiro F

• Affiliation / Faculty of Sport of University of Porto. Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure
• Affiliation / North Polytechnic Institute of Health. Department of Physiotherapy
• Affiliation / Santa Maria Health School. Department of Physiotherapy
• Affiliation / University of Aveiro. Institute for Research in Biomedicine (iBiMED)
• Affiliation(G) / Portugal / Aveiro
• Affiliation(G) / Portugal / Gandra
• Affiliation(G) / Portugal / Porto
• Elastic Modulus
• Friction
• Massage
• Open Access Document
• Patellar Ligament
• Tendons / therapy
• Ultrasonography

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the skin pressure needed to promote the macroscopic deformation of the asymptomatic patellar tendon and to verify if the pressure is associated with the individual’s characteristics.

Methods: A descriptive laboratory study was performed with a convenience sample of 18 young, voluntary, and asymptomatic individuals of both sexes. A progressively increasing pressure was applied on the skin over the patellar tendon, through an instrument designed to perform and control the pressure upon an ultrasound probe; data were recorded and analyzed by 2 blind investigators. All statistical analyses were conducted considering α = 0.05.

Results: The average pressure needed to promote a macroscopic deformation of the patellar tendon was 1.12 ± 0.37 kg/cm2. Female sex and age were inversely but not significantly associated with the pressure performed. Sports practice, weight, height, body mass index, muscle mass, and subcutaneous thickness were positively but not significantly associated with the pressure executed.

Conclusion: The average pressure needed to promote the macroscopic deformation of the patellar tendon was 1.12 ± 0.37 kg/cm2, which was not influenced by the characteristics of the participants.

Author keywords: Tendons; Massage; Stress, Mechanical; Elastic Modulus

Author affiliations:  PC, MP, FP: Department of Physiotherapy, CESPU, North Polytechnic Institute of Health, Gandra PRD, Portugal; DS: Department of Physiotherapy, Santa Maria Health School, Porto, Portugal; JAD: Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure, Faculty of Sport of University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; FR: Institute for Research in Biomedicine (iBiMED), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal

This abstract is reproduced with the permission of the publisher; click on the above link for free full text.  PubMed Record