Acoustic Palpation Tissue Imagingand Quantification Technology(VTIQ) Research On Achilles Tendon Of Professional Athletes

OBJECTIVE: To examine the Achilles tendon of professional athletes and healthy young people by quantifying acoustic palpation tissue imaging techniques,obtain two-dimensional and elastic values,and study the characteristics of the Achilles tendon and the effects of high-intensity and mass exercise on the Achilles tendon.Methods: A total of 54 athletes of different professions were recruited,and 39 healthy young people were volunteers.Divide the Achilles tendon into upper,middle and lower sections.First,a routine ultrasound examination was performed to record its thickness,two-dimensional morphology,and blood flow.Then perform VTIQ check on the upper,middle,and lower Achilles tendons in sequence,and perform 3 VTIQ checks on each Achilles tendon.Each check takes 9 SWV values,and the average value after removing the highest and lowest values is obtained.The average value is calculated to obtain the average value,and this value is recorded as the SWV value of the Achilles tendon of this segment.Results: In the VTIQ mode,the Achilles tendon on both sides of the athlete group and the healthy youth group were mainly uniform red,with a small amount of yellow,and the boundary with the surrounding tissue was clearer.In the healthy young group,the shear wave velocity of the upper,middle,and lower segments of the left Achilles tendon were statistically different(P <0.01);the shear wave velocity of the upper,middle,and lower segments of the right Achilles tendon weretwo to two.There was also a statistical difference between the comparisons(all P values were <0.01).There was a statistical difference between the upper,middle,and lower shear wave speeds of the left and right Achilles tendons of professional athletes(all P values were <0.01);the right and upper,middle,and lower Achilles tendons were compared in pairs.Statistical difference(all P values> 0.05).The healthy young group and the professional athlete group were compared on the left and right three segments of the Achilles tendon on the same side.The upper segment of the Achilles tendon was statistically significant on the left side(P value <0.01)and not statistically significant on the right side(P value> 0.05);the comparison of the middle and lower segments of the same side of the Achilles tendon is statistically significant,in which the left side(both P values <0.01)and the right side(both P values <0.01).All volunteers of the same side and the same segment of the Achilles tendon were compared with each other and found that there was a statistically significant difference in the upper right and middle right segments(P values <0.01),and no significant differences were found in the rest(P value> 0.05)..No statistical difference was found between the athletes group in the track and field sports group and the ball sports group(all P values> 0.05).in conclusion:1.Routine ultrasound for Achilles tendon examination is the most convenient method at present,and it has high value in clinical application.2.In healthy people,the Achilles tendon is a high-hardness structure with relatively uniform overall hardness.3.High-intensity,long-term exercise will cause non-clinical symptoms of tissue changes in the internal tissues of the Achilles tendon,and the hardness of the Achilles tendon will increase.4.Using the VTIQ technology in ARFI to check Achilles tendon can detect Achilles tendon changes before clinical symptoms,suggesting risk.