Investigation of Biomechanical and Viscoelastic Properties of Achilles Tendon in Professional Soccer Players According to Position

Abstract

As in all performance athletes, too hard or too soft Achilles tendon (AT) affects athletic performance and increases the risk of injury in soccer players. The aim of this study was to know the tendon stiffness and mechanical properties of the tendon according to the positions and thus to apply appropriate training programs for the structural improvement of the mechanical properties of the AT according to the positions of the soccer players. In this study, 21 male professional soccer players with a mean age of 18.19±0.402 years, mean height of 180.48±6.258 cm, mean body weight of 70.71±7.823 kg, and mean BMI of 21.66±1.65 kg/m₂ were included. The mechanical and viscoelastic properties of the AT were evaluated with the highly reliable MyotonPro device (Myoton AS, Estonia). AT measurements of professional soccer players were performed 4 cm above the distal insertion of the tendon (calcaneal tubercle) after determining the distal insertion of the tendon in the prone position with the ankles hanging from the table in a neutral position. Although there was a significant result (p