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

• Strength and flexibility deficits were found in athletes with patellar tendinopathy.
• Athletes with patellar tendinopathy displayed decreased hip extensor strength.
• Decreased dorsiflexion range of motion was also observed in these athletes.
• Athletes with patellar tendinopathy also showed decreased hamstring flexibility.
• These impairments should be considered in patellar tendinopathy rehabilitation.

ObjectivesTo compare the hip, knee and ankle torques, as well as knee and ankle flexibility between athletes with patellar tendinopathy and asymptomatic controls.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingLaboratory setting.ParticipantsFourteen 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 measuresHip, 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.ResultsThe 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).ConclusionsStrength 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.