[Sonography of Achilles tendon changes in athletes]

Sonography of the achilles tendon is a sure diagnostic method. It allows to recognise different pathological changes in the tendon. In a screening study we performed sonography of 156 achilles tendons in 78 sportsmen. We found a correlation between the results of clinical investigations, pain and sonographic findings. In some cases sonography showed structural changes in the achilles tendon without subjective complaints in the patients. Besides the pathological changes of the achilles tendon we observed an increasing caliper and echo density of the tendon in elderly patients. The delineation of the achilles tendon against the surrounding tissues was superior in younger patients. Disorders of the achilles tendon which had occurred in the patients on a previous occasion resulted in structural changes of the tendon in 75% of the cases, retrospectively identified by ultrasonography.