Abstract
Patellar tendinopathy is characterized by tendon pain which may reduce the level of performance. This study’s main aim was to compare isokinetic knee strength and jump performances at the start of the sport season between players with patellar tendinopathy and those without. Secondary aims were to assess the relationship between knee strength and jump function. Sixty-two professional basketball players were enrolled (mean age: 25.0 ± 4.0). All players performed knee isokinetic measurements, single leg countermovement jumps, and one leg hop tests. Correlations between knee strength and jump performances were examined. Twenty-four players declared a patellar tendinopathy and were compared to the 38 players without tendinopathy. The isokinetic quadriceps strength was lower in cases of patellar tendinopathy, and a camel’s back curve was observed in 58% of the cases of patellar tendinopathy. However, jump performances were preserved. No link was found between quadriceps and hamstring limb symmetry indexes at 60 and 180°/s with jumps. This preseason screening enabled us to identify the absence of consequences of patellar tendinopathy in professional basketball players. Jump performances were not altered, possibly due to compensatory strategies.
Highlights
Patellar tendinopathy (PT) is characterized by serious tendon pain, which may reduce level of competitive performance; it induces loss of playing time and may cause premature career endings [1,2]
Twelve basketball players were removed from the study because of a bilateral PT, biasing the calculation of isokinetic and jump Limb Symmetry Index (LSI)
Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment–Patella (VISA-P) score and isokinetic knee assessment were very instructive to identify professional basketball players suffering from patellar tendinopathy at the start of a sport season
Summary
Patellar tendinopathy (PT) is characterized by serious tendon pain, which may reduce level of competitive performance; it induces loss of playing time and may cause premature career endings [1,2]. Of the athletes affected by severe PT do not return to sport, with 50% of them still having knee pain 15 years after the diagnosis [5]. A decrease in knee strength or vertical jump performances in basketball players should more accurately be considered a consequence of PT or of another knee joint injury than a risk factor [15,16]. As PT could be responsible for limitations in sport performances, isokinetic testing and jump evaluations could be relevant in its identification [15], especially because preventive programs already exist to limit PT consequences [21]
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