Are the takeoff and landing phase dynamics of the volleyball spike jump related to patellar tendinopathy?

Rob W Bisseling ^1*, At L Hof ¹, Steef W Bredeweg ², Johannes Zwerver ² and Theo Mulder ³

¹ Center for Human Movement Sciences, University of Groningen, Netherlands
² Center for Sports Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, Netherlands
³ Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Netherlands

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: r.w.bisseling{at}med.umcg.nl.

Accepted 17 March 2008

Abstract

Objective: The causal mechanism of the chronic sports injury patellar tendinopathy is not well understood. The purpose of the present study was to compare the ankle and knee joint dynamics during the performance of the volleyball spike jump between healthy volleyball players (n=8) and asymptomatic volleyball players with previous patellar tendinopathy (n=7). Design: cross-sectional.

Methods: Inverse dynamics were used to estimate ankle and knee joint dynamics. From these multiple biomechanical variables a logistic regression was performed to estimate the probability of the presence or absence of previous patellar tendinopathy among the volleyball players.

Results: Several biomechanical variables improved the prediction of the presence or absence of previous patellar tendinopathy. Landing: ankle plantar flexion at the time of touch down, and knee range of motion during the first part of impact. Takeoff: loading rate of the knee extensor moment during the eccentric countermovement phase of takeoff. As interaction effect the presence or absence of previous patellar tendinopathy were correctly predicted by ankle and knee range of motion during the first part of impact, loading rate of the knee extensor moment during the eccentric phases of takeoff and landing, and knee angular velocity during the eccentric phases of takeoff and landing.

Conclusion: Smaller joint flexion during the first part of impact of landing, and higher rate of knee moment development during the eccentric phases of the spike jump-landing sequence together with higher knee angular velocities, might be risk factors in the development of patellar tendinopathy in volleyball players.