Publications

• From our perspective, the MyotonPRO device is considered to be an effective tool for objectively monitoring changes in the stiffness of muscle-tendon units in response to training. Accurately predicting ligament fatigue failure under repetitive loading is crucial for improving injury prevention and maintaining the musculoskeletal health of athletes.

Background/Objectives: The aim of our study was to evaluate the transverse stiffness of selected soft tissues in the knee joint region on the previously injured and uninjured sides of female handball players and non-athlete women, in the lying and standing positions, and to investigate the relationship between stiffness, age, sporting practice, and clinical assessments of the knees.

Methods: A total of 25 young female handball players (the SPORT group) and 27 healthy non-athletic individuals (the CONTROL group) were examined. The MyotonPRO device was used to measure the stiffness of the patellar tendon (PT), rectus femoris (RF), and biceps femoris (BF) muscles on both sides and in both positions. The function of the knee joints was clinically assessed using the Knee Outcome Survey—Sports Activities Scale and the Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale.

Results: ANOVA indicated a significant effect of group (p < 0.003) on the PT’s stiffness, and a significant effect of position (p < 0.0001) on the PT, RF, and BF muscle stiffness. The SPORT group demonstrated significantly higher PT transverse stiffness when lying down (p < 0.01), but not when sitting up (p > 0.05), compared to the CONTROL group. Significant negative correlations were found between PT stiffness and both clinical scales in the SPORT group (rho from −0.39 to −0.71, p < 0.05).

Conclusions: In female handball players, only the patellar tendon transverse stiffness was higher than in the control group. While this higher stiffness could indicate an adaptive rebuilding process, it was negatively correlated with the clinical assessment of joint function, meaning poorer knee joint function.

Keywords: patellar tendon, quadriceps muscle, Lysholm Knee Score

Female handball players with a history of one knee injury had significantly higher patellar tendon stiffness in the lying position than matched non-athlete women. Additionally, the high PT stiffness values (but not RF and BF muscle values) recorded in both groups while standing showed a significant positive correlation with sports practice, which may indicate tendon adaptation to loads. High PT stiffness values are associated with deteriorating knee joint function in female handball players.