TENDINOPATIA PATELAR: INVESTIGAÇÃO DOS FATORES DE RISCO ASSOCIADOS A SOBRECARGA DO TENDÃO PATELAR EM EQUIPE FEMININA DE BASQUETE DO MUNICÍPIO DE VARGINHA

Abstract

Patellar tendinopathy (PT) is defined as a lesion related to the dysfunction of the extensor apparatus of the knee, with consequent involvement of the patellar tendon. Local factors related to the knee joint are the most commonly investigated in the literature. On the other hand, there is evidence of the contribution of non-local factors related to hip and foot joints in the manifestation of PT. The purpose of this study was to investigate factors associated with patellar tendon overload, specific to the range of motion (ROM) of dorsiflexion and medial hip rotation, in female basketball players in the city of Varginha. A total of 12 athletes participated in the study. The evaluations of the indirect measurement of the value of passive hip stiffness (related to the external rotation torque), related to the passive ROM of internal hip rotation, with the dorsiflexion ROM were combined. No statistically significant differences were found in this sample. It is concluded that there is a clear need to deepen the knowledge about the interdependence of the biomechanics of the distal and proximal segments of the lower limb kinetic chain, specifically in cases of patellar tendon overload. In addition, it should be pointed out that the early detection of some of these risk factors assists decision making in the development of preventive programs. On the other hand, the evidence of controversies in the literature, coupled with the reduced number of publications involving basketball athletes, justifies the need to carry out new studies with methodological quality on the determinant factors associated with PT.