Adaptaciones musculotendinosas del tendón extensor común del codo en jugadores profesionales de bádminton: un estudio observacional

Introduction

High-level sports practice can generate tissue adaptations in the athlete's musculotendinous structures. In asymmetrical sports, such as badminton, these adaptations can vary between the dominant and non-dominant side. The aim of the study was to evaluate the structural and functional characteristics of the common extensor tendon in professional badminton players, as well as to see the difference between women and men.

Methods

Twelve players from the Spanish Badminton National Team (50% female, age: 23 years, SD: 5 years) participated. Ultrasound evaluation and subsequent image analysis were performed to assess the thickness and cross-sectional area of the common extensor tendon, as well as the area of extensor carpi radialis brevis muscle. Furthermore, a quantitative analysis of echogenicity, neovascularisation and ultrasound alterations was performed. Bilateral hand grip strength was also assessed.

Results

Analysis revealed greater tendon thickness on the dominant side compared to the non-dominant side (0.4 ± 0.2 mm, P<.05). Analysis of ultrasound characteristics showed differences in neovascularisation and other ultrasound characteristics, but these were not statistically significant, except for tendon echo-intensity which was significantly lower on the dominant side than on the non-dominant side (P<.05). There was also a difference in grip strength between males and females (49.1 ± 8.9 vs 35.9 ± 9.4 kg; P<.05), although no significant differences were found between them in morphological measurements.

Conclusions

It seems that professional badminton practice can generate structural asymmetries in the common extensor tendon of the athlete, which can be considered as tissue adaptations to the load received.