Sonographic evaluation of the deep fascia of the lower limbs in individuals with Achilles tendinopathy

This thesis is an observational cross-sectional study focused on the sonographic assessment of the deep fascia of the lower limbs in individuals with Achilles tendinopathy. The study is based on the concept of myofascial continuity, according to which pathological changes associated with Achilles tendinopathy may also affect adjacent fascial structures. The main aim of the study was to evaluate whether changes in the thickness of the deep fascia of the lower limb occur in individuals with Achilles tendinopathy and whether these changes can be detected using musculoskeletal ultrasonography. A total of 24 participants were included in the study: 12 individuals with unilateral symptomatic Achilles tendinopathy and 12 healthy controls. All participants underwent ultrasonographic examination of the fascia lata and fascia cruris. In the research group, ultrasonographic examination of the Achilles tendon was also performed. The thickness of the examined structures was subsequently assessed using ImageJ software. No statistically significant differences in deep fascia thickness were found between the study and control groups in most of the evaluated sites. An exception was the fascia cruris lateralis region (p=0,028; d=0,96), where a smaller fascia thickness was observed in the asymptomatic lower limb of...