title: The effect of a patellar strap on knee joint proprioception in healthy participants and athletes with patellar tendinopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The primary aim of this study is to investigate the effect of the use of a patellar strap on knee joint proprioception in both healthy participants and in patients with patellar tendinopathy (PT). Secondary aims are to examine whether there is a difference in effectiveness of the use of a patellar strap between participants with low and high proprioceptive acuity and if possible predictors of effectiveness can be determined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control.
  
  
  METHODS
  The threshold to detect passive motion with and without a patellar strap was assessed in 22 healthy participants and 21 unilateral PT patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results from the mixed model analysis show that in both groups of participants a small but statistically significant improvement in proprioception was found, primarily in those who had low proprioceptive acuity. A notable finding was that in the symptomatic leg of the PT group no improvement in proprioception by wearing a strap could be determined. Male gender and having fewer symptoms were possible predictors of effectiveness in PT patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As proprioception plays a role in optimising movements and reducing load to joint-related structures like tendons and ligaments, it is considered an important protection mechanism. Although the improvements in proprioception as a result of wearing the strap are small, it might be that the use of a patellar strap can potentially play a role in injury prevention since poor proprioception can be a risk factor for (re)-injury.
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Center for Sports Medicine, P.O. Box 30 001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: a.j.de.vries02@umcg.nl.
authors.forename: Astrid J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Center for Sports Medicine, P.O. Box 30 001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Inge
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: van den Akker-Scheek
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Center for Sports Medicine, P.O. Box 30 001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ron L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Diercks
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Center for Sports Medicine, P.O. Box 30 001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zwerver
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Center for Sports Medicine, P.O. Box 30 001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Henk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: van der Worp
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D010329:Patella; D011434:Proprioception; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Injury; Jumper's knee; Orthosis; Position sense