title: Is proprioception diminished in patients with patellar tendinopathy?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patellar tendinopathy is a highly prevalent overuse injury, and most treatments are only effective to some extent. This persistence of complaints could be linked to changed proprioception. One study showed diminished proprioception in athletes with lateral epicondylitis. Aim of this study was to determine differences in proprioception, by measuring threshold to detect passive motion (TTDPM) between recreational athletes diagnosed with patellar tendinopathy and healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  The TTDPM as measure of proprioception was determined in 22 recreational athletes with patellar tendinopathy and 22 healthy recreational athletes using a validated instrument. Amount of knee flexion and extension before the movement was noticed by the subject was determined. 80 measurements per athlete (left and right leg, towards extension and flexion and with two starting angles of 20° and 40° flexion) were performed. Mean TTDPM was compared between groups and among the injured recreational athletes between the affected and unaffected knee.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant difference in TTDPM was found between recreational athletes with patellar tendinopathy and healthy controls. We did find a significant difference between the injured and non-injured knee in recreational athletes with patellar tendinopathy; mean TTDPM was 0.02° higher in the injured knee (p=0.044).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No difference was found in proprioception between recreational athletes with patellar tendinopathy and healthy recreational athletes. It is unclear whether such a small difference in TTDPM between affected and unaffected knee is important in clinical setting.
authors.affiliation: Center for Sports Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Groot
authors.affiliation: Center for Sports Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: van der Worp
authors.affiliation: Center for Sports Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nijenbanning
authors.affiliation: Center for Sports Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Diercks
authors.affiliation: Center for Sports Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zwerver
authors.affiliation: Center for Sports Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: i.scheek@umcg.nl.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: van den Akker-Scheek
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010329:Patella / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Jumper's knee; Patellar tendinopathy; Proprioception; Threshold to detect passive motion