Meaghan Harris1, Adrian Schultz2, Michael K Drew3, Ebonie Rio4, Stuart Adams5, Suzi Edwards6. 1. University of Newcastle, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Ourimbah, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: meaghan.harris@uon.edu.au. 2. University of Newcastle, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Ourimbah, NSW, Australia; University of Newcastle, Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Callaghan, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: adrian.schultz@newcastle.edu.au. 3. Athlete Availability, Australian Institute of Sport, Bruce, ACT, Australia; University of Canberra Research into Sport and Exercise (UCRISE), University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT, Australia; Australian Centre for Research into Injury in Sport and its Prevention, Federation University Australia, Ballarat, VIC, Australia. Electronic address: mick.drew@ausport.gov.au. 4. La Trobe University Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia. Electronic address: e.rio@latrobe.edu.au. 5. University of Newcastle, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Ourimbah, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: stuart.r.adams@uon.edu.au. 6. University of Newcastle, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Ourimbah, NSW, Australia; University of Newcastle, Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Callaghan, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: suzi.edwards@newcastle.edu.au.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To identify studies that report three-dimensional (3D) biomechanical analysis of jump-landing tasks in relation to athletes with current patellar tendinopathy (PT), and/or asymptomatic with history of PT or patellar tendon abnormality (PTA) on diagnostic imaging. METHODS: Five electronic databases were searched. Included articles were required to: (1) investigate the 3D biomechanics of a jump-landing task; (2) be cross-sectional or longitudinal in design; and (3) include participants that had symptomatic PT, were asymptomatic with a history of PT, asymptomatic with PTA on diagnostic imaging and/or asymptomatic with an unknown pathology or PT history. RESULTS: Thirty-seven statistically significant jump-landing variables were associated with PT, history of PT and/or PTA. The only consistent variable that could be replicated between studies was knee flexion angle at initial foot-ground contact (IC) and an altered hip flexion/extension strategy during a horizontal land phase of a vertical stop-jump. CONCLUSION: Isolated vertical landings or take-offs alone may not be sensitive enough to identify key jump-landing variables associated with PT, thus clinicians and researchers should incorporate a whole jump-landing task with a horizontal landing component. Sagital plane hip and knee kinematics in a horizontal landing phase appear to provide the most valuable information for evaluating those with PT.
OBJECTIVE: To identify studies that report three-dimensional (3D) biomechanical analysis of jump-landing tasks in relation to athletes with current patellar tendinopathy (PT), and/or asymptomatic with history of PT or patellar tendon abnormality (PTA) on diagnostic imaging. METHODS: Five electronic databases were searched. Included articles were required to: (1) investigate the 3D biomechanics of a jump-landing task; (2) be cross-sectional or longitudinal in design; and (3) include participants that had symptomatic PT, were asymptomatic with a history of PT, asymptomatic with PTA on diagnostic imaging and/or asymptomatic with an unknown pathology or PT history. RESULTS: Thirty-seven statistically significant jump-landing variables were associated with PT, history of PT and/or PTA. The only consistent variable that could be replicated between studies was knee flexion angle at initial foot-ground contact (IC) and an altered hip flexion/extension strategy during a horizontal land phase of a vertical stop-jump. CONCLUSION: Isolated vertical landings or take-offs alone may not be sensitive enough to identify key jump-landing variables associated with PT, thus clinicians and researchers should incorporate a whole jump-landing task with a horizontal landing component. Sagital plane hip and knee kinematics in a horizontal landing phase appear to provide the most valuable information for evaluating those with PT.