{
  "abstract": "Background/Objective: To investigate whether morphological abnormalities of the patellar tendon, assessed using ultrasound imaging, are associated with patellar tendon-related pain in adolescent soccer players. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted at a university and enrolled 140 middle school soccer players (280 knees). Pain assessment was conducted using the visual analog scale and tenderness. Physical function assessments were also conducted. Ultrasound imaging was used to evaluate the morphology of the patellar tendon. Results: Data on a total of 211 knees were analyzed. Compared with non-painful knees, knees with patellar tendon-related pain exhibited significantly lower knee extension strength and a higher prevalence of hypoechoic and Doppler findings. The logistic regression analysis demonstrated a significant association between hypoechoic findings and patellar tendon-related pain (adjusted odds ratio = 10.65, 95% confidence interval: 3.65–31.88, p < 0.001), whereas no significant associations were observed for other morphological or physical function measures. Conclusion: Hypoechoic findings in the patellar tendon were significantly associated with patellar tendon-related pain in adolescent soccer players. These findings suggest that ultrasound imaging may be useful for identifying tendon characteristics that are associated with pain. However, longitudinal studies are needed to establish causal relationships.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kio University, Nara, Japan",
    "Department of Rehabilitation, Shimada Hospital, Osaka, Japan",
    "Graduate School of Medicine, Musculoskeletal Reconstructive Surgery, Nara Medical University, Nara, Japan"
  ],
  "article_type": "Research Article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 5,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Yuuka Yasuura"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Takahiko Fukumoto"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Hiroaki Yamano"
    },
    {
      "name": "Yuya Mawarikado"
    },
    {
      "name": "Daisuke Uritani"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/b11d2rytsfztm.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1371/journal.pone.0357407",
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  "id": "b11d2rytsfztm",
  "issns": [
    "1932-6203"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0357407",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2732|Tendon Structure and Treatment"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Anatomy/Biological tissue/Connective tissue/Tendons"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Anatomy/Body limbs/Legs/Knees"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Anatomy/Musculoskeletal system/Skeleton/Skeletal joints/Knees"
    ],
    [
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      "/Biology and life sciences/Developmental biology/Morphogenesis/Vasculogenesis"
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    ],
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      "/Biology and life sciences/Sports science/Sports"
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    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Anatomy/Biological tissue/Connective tissue/Tendons"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Anatomy/Body limbs/Legs/Knees"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Anatomy/Musculoskeletal system/Skeleton/Skeletal joints/Knees"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Clinical medicine/Signs and symptoms/Pain"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Diagnostic medicine/Diagnostic radiology/Ultrasound imaging"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Radiology and imaging/Diagnostic radiology/Ultrasound imaging"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Physical sciences/Mathematics/Statistics/Statistical methods/Regression analysis"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Research and analysis methods/Imaging techniques/Diagnostic radiology/Ultrasound imaging"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Research and analysis methods/Mathematical and statistical techniques/Statistical methods/Regression analysis"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Social sciences/Psychology/Behavior/Recreation/Sports"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Social sciences/Sociology/Education/Schools"
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  "openalex": "W7211971166",
  "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0357407&type=printable",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-08",
  "publisher": "Public Library of Science",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/b11d2rytsfztm.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:56Z",
      "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pone.0357407",
      "source": "plos",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0357407"
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  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "plos:anatomy",
      "subfield": "physiology"
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  "title": "Association between patellar tendon-related pain and morphological abnormalities of the patellar tendon visualized using ultrasound imaging in middle school athletes",
  "title_text": "Association between patellar tendon-related pain and morphological abnormalities of the patellar tendon visualized using ultrasound imaging in middle school athletes",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:56Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/b11d2rytsfztm",
  "venue": "PLOS One",
  "versions": []
}