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Updated: Jan 9, 2026
Biomechanical Testing of Murine Tendons
Published on: October 15, 2019
Assessment of tendon mechanical properties using virtual touch tissue imaging quantification: an elastography study
1Department of Ultrasound Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China; Department of Ultrasound Medicine, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Compus of First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350012, China.
Aim:
This study aimed to evaluate the shear wave velocity (SWV) of supraspinatus tendons (SST) using Virtual Touch Imaging Quantification (VTIQ) elastography, to analyse factors influencing SWV measurements in healthy individuals, and to characterise changes in SST stiffness during injury.
Materials And Methods:
Clinical data from 130 healthy volunteers and 51 patients with SST injuries were analysed. The SWV values in healthy volunteers were assessed by VTIQ across gender, age, body mass index (BMI), and SST thickness groups. Patients were categorised by age (group 1: ≤50 years; group 2: >50 years). SST thickness and SWV values were measured bilaterally, with healthy volunteers serving as controls. Two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound acoustic characteristics were evaluated for injured SSTs.
Results:
Bilateral SST SWV values showed no significant differences between sexes or SST thickness groups, but females had lower SWV values than males (P = 0.003). SWV values decreased with increasing age and BMI, with significant differences between age (P < 0.001) and BMI groups (P = 0.04). In individuals over 50 years old, right SST SWV values were lower than the left (P < 0.05). Injured SST in group 1 exhibited reduced echogenicity and significantly lower SWV values compared to controls (P < 0.05). Group 2 showed increased echogenicity with no significant difference in SWV values (P > 0.05).
Conclusion:
VTIQ elastography effectively reflects SST stiffness changes. Age and BMI significantly influence SWV values, while SST injuries result in increased thickness and reduced stiffness mainly. Overall, VTIQ elastography serves as a valuable complement to conventional 2D ultrasound for diagnosing SST injuries.
