Lower limb strength and flexibility in athletes with and without patellar tendinopathy.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the hip, knee and ankle torques, as well as knee and ankle flexibility between athletes with patellar tendinopathy and asymptomatic controls.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.

SETTING: Laboratory setting.

PARTICIPANTS: Fourteen male volleyball, basketball or handball athletes, divided into 2 groups, patellar tendinopathy group (TG; n = 7) and asymptomatic control group (CG; n = 7).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Hip, knee and ankle isometric torques were measured with a handheld dynamometer. Weight-bearing ankle dorsiflexion, hamstring and quadriceps flexibility were measured with a gravity inclinometer.

RESULTS: The TG had 27% lower hip extensor torque when compared to the CG (P = 0.031), with no group differences in knee and ankle torques (P > 0.05). Also, the TG had smaller weight-bearing ankle dorsiflexion (P = 0.038) and hamstring flexibility (P = 0.006) when compared to the CG. Regarding quadriceps flexibility, no group differences were found (P = 0.828).

CONCLUSIONS: Strength and flexibility deficits might contribute to a greater overload on the knee extensor mechanism, possibly contributing to the origin/perpetuation of patellar tendinopathy. Interventions aiming at increasing hip extensors strength as well as ankle and knee flexibility might be important for the rehabilitation of athletes with patellar tendinopathy.