A personalized muscle–tendon assessment and exercise prescription concept reduces muscle–tendon imbalances in female adolescent athletes

Key Points

1. Symptomatic athletes dropped from 0-40% in the control group to 0-13.6% in the intervention group, suggesting unaddressed muscle-tendon imbalances contribute to pain.

All key points available for members only

Start free trial

Or log in here

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE

Muscle strength and tendon stiffness must be balanced to prevent excessive tendon strain. A persistent tendon stiffness deficit relative to muscle strength may contribute to tendinopathy. Adolescent athletes with tendon pain often show strain >9% during maximal contractions, while 4.5–6.5% strain is ideal for tendon adaptation.

Muscles adapt to various stimuli, but tendons are less responsive to metabolic stress. Therefore, muscle imbalances can be addressed with exercises that avoid excessive tendon strain. Targeted training to optimize the muscle–tendon unit may help prevent injuries. A new theoretical concept has been used to address imbalances in male adolescent athletes but it is not yet clear if this also applies to female athletes.

Adolescent athletes with tendon pain often show strain >9% during maximal contractions, while 4.5–6.5% strain is ideal for tendon adaptation.

Prescribing isometrics at an estimated 70-80% MVC as part of a strength program for youth athletes may contribute to promoting tendon health.

METHODS

• A prospective design across two seasons using elite female handball players (aged 13-16) where season one acted as a control with measurements only and season two involved an individualized exercise intervention.

Start free trial

to unlock full access to this review and 1109 more

Or log in here