title: Physical therapists' role in prevention and management of patellar tendinopathy injuries in youth, collegiate, and middle-aged indoor volleyball athletes.
abstract: Patellar tendinopathy is highly prevalent in all ages and skill levels of volleyball athletes. To illustrate this, we discuss the clinical, biomechanical, and ultrasound imaging presentation and the intervention strategies of three volleyball athletes at different stages of their athletic career: youth, middle-aged, and collegiate. We present our examination strategies and interpret the data collected, including visual movement analysis and dynamics, relating these findings to the probable causes of their pain and dysfunction. Using the framework of the EdUReP concept, incorporating Education, Unloading, Reloading, and Prevention, we propose intervention strategies that target each athlete's specific issues in terms of education, rehabilitation, training, and return to sport. This framework can be generalized to manage patellar tendinopathy in other sports requiring jumping, from youth to middle age, and from recreational to elite competitive levels.
authors.affiliation: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Kornelia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kulig
authors.affiliation: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Noceti-DeWit
authors.affiliation: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Reischl
authors.affiliation: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Rob F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Landel
mesh_terms: D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D059825:Physical Therapists; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000592:standards; D054798:Volleyball