ArticleEuropean journal of applied physiology2018
Heterogeneity of passive elastic properties within the quadriceps femoris muscle-tendon unit.
Article in European journal of applied physiology, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
14 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 31 citations in OpenAlex.
- Characterizing Musculoskeletal Tissue Mechanics Based on Shear Wave Propagation: A Systematic Review of Current Methods and Reported Measurements.Annals of biomedical engineering · 2022Pooled it
- A comparison of foam rolling and vibration foam rolling on the quadriceps muscle function and mechanical properties.European journal of applied physiology · 2021Trial
- Heterogenous quadriceps femoris inter-head but consistent intra-head rigidity changes after voluntary eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage.European journal of applied physiology · 2026Article
- Regional Differences in Muscle and Fascial Tissue Stiffness in the Rectus Femoris Are Dependent Upon Localised Stretching.European journal of sport science · 2026Article
- Differences in stiffness across the patellar tendon: An observational study using tendotonometry.PloS one · 2025Observational
- Influence of the Knee and Hip Joint Angles on the Knee Extensor Muscles and Tendon Shear Wave Velocity in Men and Prepubertal Boys.Translational sports medicine · 2025Article
- MR elastography-based slip interface imaging (SII) for functional assessment of myofascial interfaces: A feasibility study.Magnetic resonance in medicine · 2024Article
- Observational
- MSK Ultrasound - An IJSPT Perspective.International journal of sports physical therapy · 2023Article
- Muscle and Tendon Stiffness of the Lower Limb of Professional Adolescent Soccer Athletes Measured Using Shear Wave Elastography.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
- Modulation in the Stiffness of Specific Muscles of the Quadriceps in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis and Their Relationship With Functional Ability.Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology · 2021Article
- The association between patellar tendon stiffness measured with shear-wave elastography and patellar tendinopathy-a case-control study.European radiology · 2020Article
- Relationship between Quadriceps Tendon Young's Modulus and Maximum Knee Flexion Angle in the Swing Phase of Gait in Patients with Severe Knee Osteoarthritis.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2020Article
- Relationships between Quadriceps Tendon Elasticity and Knee Flexion Angle in Young Healthy Adults.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2019Article
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 1 institution in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeThe purpose of this study was to compare regional elastic properties between anterior and posterior regions of the patellar tendon, and individual quadriceps muscles, over a range of knee flexion angles.
methodsAn isokinetic dynamometer passively positioned the non-dominant knee of 19 young, healthy participants, at 25°, 40°, 55°, 70° and 85° flexion. Shear wave velocity (SWV, an index of tissue elasticity) was measured using ultrasound shear wave elastography in a relaxed (passive) state, confirmed by electromyography.
resultsSWV of the patellar tendon and quadriceps muscles increased with knee flexion (longer muscle-tendon unit; P < 0.001). Within the proximal third of the patellar tendon, SWV was lower in the posterior than anterior region at 70° (P = 0.002) and 85° (P < 0.001), but not at 25°, 40° or 55° (region-by-angle interaction, P = 0.007). No differences were found between anterior and posterior regions within the middle third of the patellar tendon (P = 0.332). For the quadriceps muscles, a significant muscle-by-angle (P < 0.001) interaction was also observed. SWV of VL was greater than VM at 55° (P = 0.005), 70° (P = 0.001) and 85° (P < 0.001), but not at 25° or 40°. SWV of RF was lower than VL at all angles (all P < 0.002) and lower than VM at 55°, 70° and 85° (all P < 0.002).
conclusionsPassive knee flexion at and beyond 70° was associated with non-uniform elastic properties within the proximal patellar tendon and between individual quadriceps muscles. To what extent this heterogeneity of passive elastic properties contributes to injury remains unknown.
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