Open AccessDistinguishing Quadriceps Tendinopathy and Patellar Tendinopathy: Semantics or Significant?
Author(s) -
Andrew Sprague,
Scott Epsley,
Karin Grävare Silbernagel
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
the journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy/journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.367
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1938-1344
pISSN - 0190-6011
DOI - 10.2519/jospt.2019.0611
Subject(s) - medicine , tendinopathy , physical therapy , quadriceps tendon , tendinitis , rehabilitation , physical medicine and rehabilitation , patellar ligament , tendon , patellar tendon , surgery
Jumper's knee is not synonymous with patellar tendinopathy. The term includes patellar tendinopathy and quadriceps tendinopathy. Although the patellar and quadriceps tendons work in tandem as part of the extensor mechanism of the knee, they have distinct anatomy and functional roles. As a result, there are probable differences in risk factors, etiology, and response to treatment. It is time to clinically separate patellar tendinopathy and quadriceps tendinopathy and design more specific rehabilitation programs. In this Viewpoint, the authors will (1) provide a rationale for distinguishing the 2 clinical entities-patellar tendinopathy and quadriceps tendinopathy-for treatment decision making, and (2) identify areas of research priority in quadriceps tendinopathy. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2019;49(9):627-630. doi:10.2519/jospt.2019.0611 .