Overweight and obesity alters the cumulativeANBtransverse strain in the Achilles tendon immediately following exercise

This research evaluated the effect of obesity on the acute cumulative transverse strain of the Achilles tendon in response to exercise. Twenty healthy adult males were categorized into alow normal-weighta (BMI 27.5ANBkgANBm-2) groups based on intermediate cut-off points recommended by the World Health Organization. Longitudinal sonograms of the right Achilles tendon were acquired immediately prior and following weight-bearing ankle exercises. Achilles tendon thickness was measured 20-mm proximal to the calcaneal insertion and transverse tendon strain was calculated as the natural log of the ratio of post- to pre-exercise tendon thickness. The Achilles tendon was thicker in the overweight group both prior to (t18ANB=ANB-2.91, PANB=ANB0.009) and following (t18ANB=ANB-4.87, PANB