Patellar tendinopathy impairs postural control in athletes: A case-control study

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Biomechanics
• Orthopedics

Background:

• Patellar tendinopathy (PT) is a common overuse injury in athletes.
• Impaired postural control may contribute to injury development and recurrence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare static and dynamic postural control between athletes with and without patellar tendinopathy.
• To assess quadriceps strength in athletes with and without patellar tendinopathy.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving 58 athletes (29 with PT, 29 healthy controls).
• Static postural control assessed via force platform; dynamic postural control using the Y-Balance Test (Y-BT).
• Quadriceps strength measured using an isometric dynamometer.

Main Results:

• Athletes with PT demonstrated significantly higher center of pressure (CoP) values on a foam surface.
• Reduced normalized reach distances and composite scores in dynamic postural control were observed in the injured limb of athletes with PT.
• Significantly lower quadriceps strength was found in the injured limb of athletes with PT compared to controls.

Conclusions:

• Athletes with patellar tendinopathy exhibit deficits in both static and dynamic postural control.
• Balance rehabilitation programs are crucial for athletes with PT to prevent further injuries and improve performance.
• Clinicians should consider integrating balance training into the management of patellar tendinopathy.