Achilles and Patellar Tendon Loading during Gait Measured Using a Non-invasive Ultrasonic Technique

INTRODUCTION In vivo measurement of tendon and ligament loads remains a challenge. Forces acting on these structures during exercise have been either estimated indirectly using EMG and inverse dynamics or measured by means of invasive techniques [2]. Recently, a non-invasive technique has been proposed, based on the measurement of the velocity of ultrasound (US) propagation in the tendon [1]. It has been demonstrated that this velocity is dependent on the force applied to the tendon (Fig. 1A). In this paper we report preliminary results of measurements performed on the Achilles tendon and patellar tendon in humans during walking.