Thirty-seven jump-landing biomechanical variables are associated with asymptomatic patellar tendon abnormality and patellar tendinopathy: A systematic review

Meaghan Harris; Adrian Schultz; Michael K Drew; Ebonie Rio; Stuart Adams; Suzi Edwards

doi:10.1016/j.ptsp.2020.03.011

Thirty-seven jump-landing biomechanical variables are associated with asymptomatic patellar tendon abnormality and patellar tendinopathy: A systematic review

Phys Ther Sport. 2020 Sep:45:38-55. doi: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2020.03.011. Epub 2020 Apr 18.

Authors

Meaghan Harris¹, Adrian Schultz², Michael K Drew³, Ebonie Rio⁴, Stuart Adams⁵, Suzi Edwards⁶

Affiliations

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.

PMID: 32622328
DOI: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2020.03.011

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.

Keywords: Biomechanics; Knee; Landing; Tendinopathy.

Publication types

Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Asymptomatic Diseases*
Biomechanical Phenomena
Exercise Test*
Humans
Patellar Ligament / physiopathology*
Tendinopathy / physiopathology*