Prevalence of patellar tendinopathy and patellar tendon abnormality in male collegiate basketball players: A cross-sectional study

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.