Physiological Tendon Thickness Adaptation in Adolescent Elite Athletes: A Longitudinal Study

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Physiology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Adolescent athletes exhibit increased Achilles (AT) and Patellar tendon (PT) thickness compared to non-athletes.
• The origin of these changes (pathological vs. physiological) due to training is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine physiological AT and PT thickness adaptation in adolescent elite athletes versus non-athletes.
• To consider the influence of sex and specific sports on tendon thickness.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal study with two measurement points over 3.2 ± 0.8 years.
• Included 131 adolescent elite athletes and 24 recreationally active controls.
• Measured AT and PT thickness at standardized points, categorizing athletes by sport type (ball, combat, endurance, explosive strength).

Main Results:

• AT thickness showed no significant change over time in athletes or controls.
• PT thickness significantly increased in athletes from baseline to follow-up (3.5 ± 0.5 mm to 3.8 ± 0.5 mm).
• Male athletes in ball, combat, and explosive strength sports demonstrated significantly greater PT thickness compared to controls.

Conclusions:

• Physiological adaptation in PT thickness is detectable in adolescent elite athletes, particularly males in specific sports.
• Sonographic microstructural analysis may offer deeper insights into tendon properties and sport-specific adaptations.