Abstract

Achilles tendon (AT) stiffness plays a key role in athletic performance and injury risk in basketball athletes. While increased stiffness may enhance performance, it may also raise injury susceptibility. Shear-wave elastography (SWE) is commonly used to assess AT stiffness, but its relationship with performance, range of motion (ROM), and injury risk remains unclear. This study examined these associations in university basketball players.
A total of 32 university athletes (12 females, 20 males) were assessed. SWE measured AT stiffness in the dominant jumping leg (DJL) and non-dominant jumping leg (NDJL). Functional assessments included single-leg vertical jump, heel raise test, and ankle dorsiflexion ROM. Paired and independent t-tests compared AT stiffness across limbs, between injured and non-injured athletes, and between sexes. Pearson correlations evaluated associations between AT stiffness, performance, and ROM.
Mean AT stiffness was 455.4 ± 72.4 kPa in males and 411.7 ± 48.5 kPa in females (p = 0.185). No significant differences were found between the DJL and NDJL. Injured male athletes had significantly lower AT stiffness than non-injured males (p = 0.040), while injured females showed more symmetrical stiffness across limbs (p = 0.027). No significant correlations were observed between AT stiffness and performance or ROM.
Although AT stiffness did not differ by limb or sex, injury history influenced tendon characteristics. These findings suggest a potential link between injury history and tendon properties, though no direct relationship with performance or ROM was found. Longitudinal studies are warranted to further explore SWE’s value in monitoring injury risk and performance.