Tendon structural and mechanical properties do not differ between genders in a healthy community-dwelling elderly population

Burgess, K; Pearson, S; Breen, L; Onambélé, G

Abstract

Elderly women are reportedly at higher risk of falling than their male counterparts. Postural balance is highly associated with fall risk and is also correlated with tendon structural and mechanical properties. Gender differences in tendon properties could partly explain
the discrepancy in fall risk. Thus the purpose of this study was to investigate the possible gender difference in tendon properties in the elderly. The properties of the patellar tendon of 55 elderly (men n=27, aged 72 ± 1 years, women n=28, aged 70 ± 1 years) participants were tested.
Tendon stiffness (K), length (L), and cross-sectional area (CSA) were measured using B-mode ultrasonography, dynamometry, and electromyography during ramped isometric knee extensions. There were no significant differences (p>0.05) between men and women in tendon stiffness (elderly men 550.9 ± 29.2 vs. women 502.9 ± 44.9 Nmm−1) or in Young’s modulus (elderly men 0.32 ± 0.02 vs. women 0.36 ± 0.04 GPa). This elderly group had similar tendon structural and mechanical properties. The comparable characteristics in genderspecific tendon properties in an elderly population exhibiting similar lifestyle characteristics to the current sample may not explain the reports in the literature regarding increased fall risk in elderly women relative to that seen in men of a similar age.

Citation

Burgess, K., Pearson, S., Breen, L., & Onambélé, G. (2009). Tendon structural and mechanical properties do not differ between genders in a healthy community-dwelling elderly population. Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 27(6), 820-825. https://doi.org/10.1002/jor.20811

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 23, 2008
• Publication Date: Jun 1, 2009
• Deposit Date: Jun 2, 2011
• Journal: Journal of Orthopaedic Research
• Print ISSN: 0736-0266
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 27
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 820-825
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jor.20811
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jor.20811
• Related Public URLs: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1554-527X
• Additional Information: Funders : SPARC (Strategic Promotion of Ageing Research Capacity);University of Salford