A biomechanical analysis of 3D stress and strain patterns in patellar tendon during knee flexion. (25th July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Kunyang; Hosseinnejad, Soroosh H.; Jabran, Ali; Baltzopoulos, Vasilios; Ren, Lei; Qian, Zhihui
• Is Part Of: International journal for numerical methods in biomedical engineering. Volume 36:Number 9(2020)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-07-25
• Subjects: computational model -- finite element analysis -- in vivo stress and strain -- patellar tendinopathy -- patellar tendon; Biomedical engineering -- Periodicals; Imaging systems in medicine -- Periodicals; Numerical analysis -- Periodicals; Engineering mathematics -- Periodicals; 610.28
• DOI: 10.1002/cnm.3379
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2040-7939

Abstract

Abstract: Patellar tendinopathy is among the most widespread patellar tendon diseases in athletes that participate in activities involving running and jumping. Although their symptoms can be detected, especially at the inferior pole of the patella, their biomechanical cause remains unknown. In this study, a three‐dimensional finite element model of knee complex was developed to investigate principal stress and strain distributions in the patellar tendon during 0° to 90° knee flexion and slow and fast level‐ground walking. Results indicate that the patellar tendon is subjected to tensile stress and strains during all three activities. During flexion, its central proximal posterior region exhibited highest peak stress and strain, followed by central distal posterior, central distal anterior and central proximal anterior region. Similar trends and magnitudes were reported during slow and fast walking. The region with highest principal stresses and strains, central proximal anterior region, also corresponds to the most commonly reported patellar tendinopathy lesion site, suggesting that principal stress and strain are good indicators of lesion site location. Additional factors such as regional variations in material properties and frequency and duration of cyclic loading also need to be considered when determining the biomechanical aetiology of patellar tendinopathy. Abstract : A three‐dimensional finite element model of knee complex was developed to investigate principal stress and strain distributions in the patellar tendon during 0° to 90° knee flexion and slow and fast level‐ground walking. The results indicate that the patellar tendon is subjected to tensile stress and strains during all three activities, where the region with highest principal stresses and strains, central proximal anterior region, corresponds to the most commonly reported patellar tendinopathy lesion site. This study suggests that principal stress and strain are good indicators of lesion site location. A three‐dimensional finite element model of knee complex was developed to investigate stress and strain patterns in patellar tendon. The central proximal posterior region of the patellar tendon is subjected to highest stresses and strains during knee flexion, slow and fast walking. This region also corresponds to the most commonly reported patellar tendinopathy lesion site, suggesting that principal stress and strain govern lesion site location. The workflow developed can be used to investigate the regional stresses and strains in the patellar tendon during more complex movements that are frequently performed in sports associated with patellar tendinopathy.