Summary
Patellar tendon injury, a chronic overuse injury characterised by pain during tendon
loading, is common in volleyball players and may profoundly restrict their ability
to compete. This cross-sectional study investigated the association between performance
factors and the presence of patellar tendon injury. These performance factors (sit
and reach flexibility, ankle dorsiflexion range, jump height, ankle plantarflexor
strength, years of volleyball competition and activity level) were measured in 113
male and female volleyball players. Patellar tendon health was determined by measures
of pain and ultrasound imaging. The association between these performance factors
and patellar tendon health (normal tendon, abnormal imaging without pain, abnormal
imaging with pain) was investigated using analysis of variance. Only reduced ankle
dorsiflexion range was associated with patellar tendinopathy (p < 0.05). As coupling between ankle dorsiflexion and eccentric contraction of the calf
muscle is important in absorbing lower limb force when landing from a jump, reduced
ankle dorsiflexion range may increase the risk of patellar tendinopathy.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
March 16,
2006
Received in revised form:
March 14,
2006
Received:
January 27,
2006
Identification
Copyright
© 2006 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
