Clinical Measures and their Contribution to Dysfunction in Individuals with Patellar Tendinopathy

Patellar tendinopathy is prevalent in physically active populations and it affects their quality of living, performance of activity, and may contribute to the early cessation of their athletic careers. A number of previous research have identified contributing factors for the patellar tendinopathy however their contributions to self-reported dysfunction remain unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation was to determine if strength, flexibility, and various lower extremity static alignments contributed to self-reported function and influence the severity of patellar tendinopathy. 30 participants with patellar tendinopathy volunteered for this study (age 23.4 +/- 3.6, height 1.75m +/- .12, weight 79.97kg +/- 20.33, BMI 25.7 +/- 4.3). Participants completed seven questionnaires prior to the data collection. Isometric knee extension and flexion strength were measured with a isokinetic dynamometer, sit and reach and active knee extension was used to measure flexibility. Lastly, alignment measures of rearfoot angle, navicular drop, tibial torsion, q angle, genu recurvatum, pelvic tilt, and leg length difference were assessed. Correlation analysis was performed to determine significantly correlated outcome variables with each of the questionnaires. The factors with the highest correlations were used to identify factors that contribute the most to pain and dysfunction using backward selection, linear regression model. Correlation analysis found significant relationships between questionnaires and BMI, knee extension and flexion strength, flexibility, q angle and pelvic tilt. Regression models identified thigh musculature strength and supine q angle to have greatest predictability for severity in patient-reported outcomes. This finding puts an emphasis of bodyweight management, improving knee extensor and flexor strength, posterior flexibility in patellar tendinopathy patients.