[en] Introduction: Patellar tendinopathy (PT) is commonly observed in jumping sports. Even if its biomechanic is somewhat explored, no information is known about the muscle strength profile of these patients. Objective: To determine if there exists a specific profile of patients suffering from a PT. Patients: 43 patients (29+/-9.8 y.o) suffering from PT were recruited. To be eligible, the patients must not have suffered from any other traumatic or micro-traumatic injury than the PT on the pathologic limb. Methods: After a physical examination, the tendon damage was assessed by ultrasounds examination. The patients were then tested on an isokinetic dynamometer and the maximum torque (per unit of mass, MTm) developed by the quadriceps and the hamstrings were recorded for various angular velocities. After each test, a visual analog scale (VAS) was used to estimate the pain felt by the patients. Results: No significant correlation was found between the MTm and the demographic variables. The difference in MTm between the healthy and the pathological limbs was significant only at a rate of 60°/s, for both the quadriceps and the hamstrings. Lastly, the VAS score showed that the most intense pain was experienced after the eccentric test. Conclusions: There is no clear patient strength profile emerging from the isokinetic test. This stresses the importance for the clinicians to make testing and to apply a personalized treatment to each patient. Finally, the isokinetic eccentric testing of the quadriceps can be used to induce a mechanical stress on the tendon for a reliable pain assessment.
Disciplines :
Orthopedics, rehabilitation & sports medicine
Author, co-author :
Kaux, Jean-François ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences de la motricité > Médecine physique, réadaptation et traumatologie du sport
Libertiaux, Vincent ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Clinique des grands animaux (chirurgie)
Croisier, Jean-Louis ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences de la motricité > Kinésithérapie générale et réadaptation
Language :
English
Title :
Muscle strength profile of patients with patellar tendinopathy
Publication date :
January 2018
Event name :
Joint Congress of the DCRM, BNF-PRM and RBSPRM 2017