Throughout the summer, we’ve watched the 2018 FIFA World Cup and Major League Baseball in full swing. On that same note, we’ve also witnessed countless leg injuries, as should be expected with run-heavy sports. But as with any injured athlete, the questions arise for the player, coach, and doctors: when should they return to action, and will it re-aggravate the injury? To navigate through these murky waters, University of Wisconsin-Madison engineers Darryl Thelen and Jack Martin created a wearable device that measures tendon tension during activities like walking and running.
Thelen’s wearable device is noninvasive and, for example, can wrap around the Achilles tendon. At the molecular level, the device measures tendon tension by analyzing vibrational changes and wave speed in the tendon during movement. For instance, during running, the device gently taps the tendon, creates waves, and then measures the speed the waves travel. To visualize this process, the study compares this to playing the guitar. When a guitarist plucks the strings, vibrations and waves are created along the strings that can be related to the tension applied to the tendon.
Image Source: vm
Athletes can use the device for not only the Achilles tendon but also the patellar or hamstring tendons. It’s also beneficial for a wide range of fields such as orthopedics, rehabilitation, and sports. Thelen’s vision is to help physicians plan more effective treatments for their patients. With the use of the device, physicians can more accurately predict their return date to action.
Injuries are a part of any sport, and taking the necessary time to heal is key. Rushing back to the field and consequently worsening the injury can prolong recovery time. But Thelen and Martin’s wearable device can help guide athletes on whether their tendons are ready for action.
Featured Image Source: Good at playing the guitar By MIKI Yoshihito
