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.