Achilles Tendon and Patellar Tendon Structure in Combat Soldiers Following Prevention Exercises

Area of Science:

• Musculoskeletal health
• Sports medicine
• Military physical training

Background:

• Military training intensifies physical stress, elevating orthopedic injury risk.
• Somatosensory prevention programs may mitigate stress and enhance functionality, potentially improving tendon organization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effect of a somatosensory prevention exercise program on Achilles and patellar tendon structure in combat soldiers.
• To assess changes in echo-type fibers, tendon diameters, and cross-sectional area post-intervention.

Main Methods:

• A 14-week study involving male Infantry soldiers (aged 18-21).
• Intervention group (n=108) performed preventative exercises; control group (n=98) did not.
• Ultrasound scanning assessed tendon structure, including echo-type fiber percentages and dimensions.

Main Results:

• Significant time-by-group interactions were observed for echo-type I and II fibers in both tendons.
• The control group showed greater increases in damaged fibers (echo-type III and IV) in both Achilles and patellar tendons compared to the intervention group.
• No significant pre-testing differences in specific fiber types were noted between groups.

Conclusions:

• Somatosensory prevention exercises appear to prevent the increase of damaged tendon fibers (echo-type III and IV) during demanding military training.
• The findings suggest these exercises are beneficial for maintaining tendon integrity and potentially reducing injury risk in soldiers.