Patellar tendon straps decrease pre-landing quadriceps activation in males with patellar tendinopathy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if patellar tendon straps altered quadriceps' muscle activity during a drop-jump landing in males with and without patellar tendinopathy.


METHODS
Case-control.


METHODS
Biomechanics Research Laboratory.


METHODS
Twenty recreationally-active males participated: ten (age = 21.3 ± 2.4 years, height = 182.8 ± 5.3 cm, mass = 81.7 ± 8.6 kg) with patellar tendinopathy; ten (age = 22.0 ± 1.6 years, height = 185.7 ± 4.5 cm, mass = 82.2 ± 9.8 kg) were healthy with no history of tendinopathy.


METHODS
Electromyography (EMG) data for the vastus medialis (VM), rectus femoris (RF), and vastus lateralis (VL) muscles were collected. Five 2-legged 40 cm drop-jumps were performed wearing a patellar tendon strap and 5 with no-strap in a counterbalanced order. Root-mean square EMG (REMG) values of the VM, RF, and VL were averaged for a pre-landing and post-landing interval. Multiple mixed-model two-way ANOVAs were performed to determine the effect of tendinopathy and strapping condition on REMG values for each muscle.


RESULTS
For the pre-landing interval, all participants displayed lesser VL EMG activation (0.44 ± 0.19%, 0.53 ± 0.27%, respectively; p = 0.007, d = 0.39) in the no-strap compared with the strap condition.


CONCLUSIONS
When wearing a strap, all participants demonstrated lower VL activation prior to landing which may be helpful in reducing tensile stress at the tendon. These effects may be clinically important in modulating pain in those with patellar tendinopathy.
University of Nebraska at Omaha, School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, 6001 Dodge St, Omaha, NE, 68182, USA. Electronic address: arosen@unomaha.edu.
Adam B
AB
Rosen
Northern Arizona University, Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training, 435 N 5th St, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA.
Jupil
J
Ko
University of Georgia, Department of Kinesiology Biomechanics Laboratory, 330 River Rd, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
Kathy J
KJ
Simpson
Oregon State University, Department of Athletic Training and Kinesiology, Langton Hall 220, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA.
Cathleen N
CN
Brown
D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001915:Braces; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004576:Electromyography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017847:Patellar Ligament / Q000503:physiopathology*; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
Bracing; EMG; Jumper's knee