Natália Franco Neto Bittencourt1, Rodrigo Ribeiro de Oliveira2, Rodrigo de Paula Mascarenhas Vaz3, Rodrigo Scattone Silva4, Luciana De Michelis Mendonça5. 1. Sports Physical Department - Minas Tênis Club, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; Centro Universitário Uni-BH, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; Tendon Research Group - Brazil, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil. 2. Tendon Research Group - Brazil, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil; Master Program in Physiotherapy and Functioning - Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil. 3. Sports Science and Medicine Department - Minas Tênis Club - Brazil, Brazil. 4. Tendon Research Group - Brazil, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences of Trairi, Federal University of Rio Grande Do Norte, Santa Cruz, RN, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Physical Therapy, Federal University of Rio Grande Do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil. 5. Tendon Research Group - Brazil, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil; Physical Therapy Department - Universidade Federal Dos Vales Do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Reabilitação e Desempenho Funcional, Universidade Federal Dos Vales Do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Diamantina, Brazil. Electronic address: lucianademichelis@yahoo.com.br.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of an intervention with tailored exercises on the incidence of patellar tendinopathy (PT) in elite youth jumping athletes. DESIGN: Prospective crossover cohort. SETTING: One sport club facility. PARTICIPANTS: 271 elite youth basketball and volleyball player were followed in the first year of the study (Observation year) and 270 athletes were followed in the second year (intervention year). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Incidence rates of PT per 1,000h of exposure. Cox survival analysis was used to verify the effects of the intervention (exercises implemented according to the findings of a preseason assessment) on PT incidence. RESULTS: The exercise prevention program significantly reduced the number of cases of PT, with athletes submitted to the intervention showing 51% less risk of developing PT. The overall PT incidence in the Observation year (5.9 per 1,000h of exposure) was significantly higher than that in the intervention year (2.8 per 1,000h of exposure) (P = .037). Twenty-six athletes developed PT in the observation year, whereas 13 athletes developed PT in the intervention year. CONCLUSIONS: A tailored preventive program may be able to reduce the incidence of patellar tendinopathy, especially in male youth volleyball athletes. Randomized controlled trials are encouraged to confirm these findings.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of an intervention with tailored exercises on the incidence of patellar tendinopathy (PT) in elite youth jumping athletes. DESIGN: Prospective crossover cohort. SETTING: One sport club facility. PARTICIPANTS: 271 elite youth basketball and volleyball player were followed in the first year of the study (Observation year) and 270 athletes were followed in the second year (intervention year). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Incidence rates of PT per 1,000h of exposure. Cox survival analysis was used to verify the effects of the intervention (exercises implemented according to the findings of a preseason assessment) on PT incidence. RESULTS: The exercise prevention program significantly reduced the number of cases of PT, with athletes submitted to the intervention showing 51% less risk of developing PT. The overall PT incidence in the Observation year (5.9 per 1,000h of exposure) was significantly higher than that in the intervention year (2.8 per 1,000h of exposure) (P = .037). Twenty-six athletes developed PT in the observation year, whereas 13 athletes developed PT in the intervention year. CONCLUSIONS: A tailored preventive program may be able to reduce the incidence of patellar tendinopathy, especially in male youth volleyball athletes. Randomized controlled trials are encouraged to confirm these findings.