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. 2019 Sep;54(9):953-958.
doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-70-18. Epub 2019 Aug 19.

Prevalence of Patellar Tendinopathy and Patellar Tendon Abnormality in Male Collegiate Basketball Players: A Cross-Sectional Study

Marcey Keefer Hutchison  1 , Jeff Houck  1 , Tyler Cuddeford  1 , Robin Dorociak  1   2 , Jason Brumitt  1
Affiliations

Prevalence of Patellar Tendinopathy and Patellar Tendon Abnormality in Male Collegiate Basketball Players: A Cross-Sectional Study

Marcey Keefer Hutchison et al. J Athl Train. 2019 Sep.

Abstract

Context: Patellar tendinopathy (PT) is a degenerative condition known to affect athletes who participate in sports such as basketball and volleyball. Patellar tendinopathy is a challenging condition to treat and may cause an athlete to prematurely retire from sport. The prevalence of PT in male collegiate basketball players is unknown.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of PT and patellar tendon abnormality (PTA) in a population of male collegiate basketball players.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: National Collegiate Athletic Association Divisions II and III, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, and Northwest Athletic Conference male collegiate basketball teams were assessed in a university laboratory setting.

Patients or other participants: Ninety-five male collegiate basketball players (age = 20.0 ± 1.7 years).

Main outcome measure(s): A diagnostic ultrasound image of an athlete's patellar tendon was obtained from each knee. Patellar tendinopathy was identified based on a player's symptoms (pain with palpation) and the presence of a hypoechoic region on an ultrasonographic image.

Results: A majority of participants, 53 of 95 (55.8%), did not present with pain during palpation or ultrasonographic evidence of PTA. Thirty-two basketball players (33.7%) displayed ultrasonographic evidence of PTA in at least 1 knee; 20 of those athletes (21.1%) had PT (pain and tendon abnormality). Nonstarters were 3.5 times more likely to present with PTA (odds ratio = 3.5, 95% confidence interval = 1.3, 9.6; P = .017) and 4 times more likely to present with PT (odds ratio = 4.0, 95% confidence interval = 1.1, 14.8; P = .038) at the start of the season.

Conclusions: One in 3 male collegiate basketball players presented with either PT or PTA. Sports medicine professionals should evaluate basketball athletes for PT and PTA as part of a preseason screening protocol.

Keywords: diagnostic ultrasound; jumper's knee; knee.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Diagnostic ultrasound image of a left patellar tendon (longitudinal view). Arrows illustrate hypoechoic region of the tendon.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Distribution of patellar tendon abnormality by lower extremity.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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