Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38610105›Full record

Observational studySports health2025

Novel Insights Into the Intratendinous Pressure Behavior of the Achilles Tendon in Athletes.

Lauren Pringels, Gilles Van Acker, Evi Wezenbeek, Arne Burssens, Luc Vanden Bossche

Registry-linked trialOpen access · greenAbstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Sports health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT07361848 (Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating the Effects of Long-Hold Yielding Isometric Exercise on Pain, Function, Vascularity, and Mechanical Properties of the Patellar Tendon in Competitive Weightlifting Athletes), which is not on this map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
1.0field-weighted citation impact, top 30% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT07361848 nanot yet recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2027, after this paper: background citation

Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating the Effects of Long-Hold Yielding Isometric Exercise on Pain, Function, Vascularity, and Mechanical Properties of the Patellar Tendon in Competitive Weightlifting Athletes

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversidad Complutense de MadridRan2027 to 2028Enrolled24ConditionsPatellar Tendinopathy / Jumpers KneeArmsLong-Hold Yielding Isometric Exercise Program, Usual-Care Training Condition
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 2 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Tendinopathy: The Interplay between Mechanical Stress, Inflammation, and Vascularity.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2025
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Lauren PringelsDepartment of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0002-2005-4984
Gilles Van AckerDepartment of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
Evi WezenbeekDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Arne BurssensDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
Luc Vanden BosscheDepartment of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
Ghent University Hospital · BEGhent University · BE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIn contrast to other musculoskeletal tissues, the normal pressure behavior of the Achilles tendon is poorly understood. This study aimed to explore the normal intratendinous and perfusion pressures of the Achilles tendon at rest and during exercise, and investigate potential correlations with tendon load and morphology. HYPOTHESIS: Intratendinous and perfusion pressures of the Achilles tendon exhibit similarities to other musculoskeletal tissues and depend on tendon load and morphology. STUDY

designObservational study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3.

methodsA total of 22 recreational athletes were enrolled. Demographics, activity level, and blood pressures were recorded. Achilles tendon thickness and echogenicity were assessed 25 mm proximal to the posterosuperior calcaneal border. In this region, intratendinous and perfusion pressures of the Achilles tendon were measured at rest and during isometric plantarflexion up to 50 N, using the microcapillary infusion technique. Linear mixed models were used to investigate the effects of plantarflexion force, tendon thickness, and echogenicity on intratendinous and perfusion pressures.

resultsAt rest, intratendinous and perfusion pressures of the Achilles tendon were 43.8 ± 15.2 and 48.7 ± 18.4 mmHg, respectively. Intratendinous pressure increased linearly with plantarflexion force, reaching 101.3 ± 25.5 mmHg at 50 N (P < 0.01). Perfusion pressure showed an inverse relationship, dropping below 0 mmHg at 50 N (P < 0.01). Neither intratendinous nor perfusion pressures of the Achilles tendon correlated with tendon thickness or echogenicity.

conclusionThe normal intratendinous resting pressure of the Achilles tendon is higher than other musculoskeletal tissues, making it more susceptible to ischemia. During exercise, intratendinous pressure increases significantly to a level that lowers perfusion pressure, thereby compromising blood supply at already low plantarflexion forces. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Given the potential role of ischemia in Achilles tendinopathy, our findings caution against intratendinous injections, as they may exacerbate high intratendinous resting pressure, and against prolonged postexercise tendon stretching, as the associated rise in intratendinous pressure may impair the required hyperemic response.

Indexed as

Achilles TendonAdultAthletesBlood PressureExerciseFemaleHumansMalePressureUltrasonographyYoung AdultAchilles tendinopathyAchilles tendonintratendinous pressure

Identifiers

PMID38610105
PMCPMC11569691
OpenAlexW4394785197

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.