The Effect of Infrapatellar Strap Treatment on Pain Extent and Athletic Measures in Young Athletes
Condition: Patellar Tendonitis; Jumper's Knee; Patellar Tendinopathy
MeSH terms: Tendinopathy
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The purpose of this study is:

        -  To examine the effect of infra patellar strap treatment on the extent of pain and
           jumping performance tasks in young male athletes diagnosed with patellar tendinopathy.

        -  40 elite male athletes, basketball and volleyball players, ages 14-18, students of the
           academy for sports Excellency will take part in this study

        -  Hypothesis 1: The treatment of infra patellar strap will reduce the level of pain during
           jumping performance tasks.

        -  Hypothesis 2: The treatment of infra patellar strap will improve the squat jump height
           in athletes with patellar tendinopathy during squat jump task.

        -  Hypothesis 3: The treatment of infra patellar strap will improve the drop jump height in
           athletes with patellar tendinopathy during drop jump task.

        -  Hypothesis 4: The treatment of infra patellar strap will improve the one leg jump height
           in athletes with patellar tendinopathy during one leg jump task.

        -  Hypothesis 5: The treatment of infra patellar strap will improve the 30 seconds
           repetitive jumps mean height in athletes with patellar tendinopathy during 30 seconds
           repetitive jumps task.
    

Detailed description: 
      Introduction: Patellar tendinopathy (Jumper's knee) is a condition usually characterized by
      localized pain and tenderness of the patellar tendon at its origin on the inferior pole of
      the patella.

      Patellar tendinopathy is an over use injury which implies on a mismatch between stress on a
      given tissue and the ability of that tissue to withstand the stress. Rapid repetitive actions
      of acceleration, deceleration, jumping and landing place great stress on the extensor
      mechanism and the patellar tendon.

      Current prevalence reported of patellar tendinopathy is up to 20% among elite athletes from a
      range of sports, with higher proportions in professional basketball (32%) and volleyball
      (45%) players.

      The common treatment for patellar tendinopathy is preventative or conservative (physical
      therapy).

      Infra patellar straps are used in treatment to reduce anterior knee pain from a variety of
      sources including patellar tendinopathy, patellar subluxation, patellar femoral syndrome,
      Osgood-Schlatter disease and more.

      In spite of the frequent use of this strap in young athletes and the subjective report of
      decreased anterior knee pain experienced by the athletes using them, the mechanisms for
      reducing anterior knee pain has not been explained.

      In addition, there is no data on the straps effect regarding the extent of pain and
      functional performance as jumping in this population.

      The purpose of this study: To examine the effect of infra patellar strap treatment on the
      extent of pain and jumping performance tasks in young male athletes diagnosed with patellar
      tendinopathy.

      Methods: 20 elite male athletes, basketball and volleyball players, ages 14-18, students of
      the academy for sports Excellency will take part in this study. Athletes approaching the
      physical therapy department of the Ribstein Center for Sport Medicine Sciences and Research
      at Wingate Institute, with anterior knee pain, will be examined by a professional physical
      therapist. The ones who are diagnosed with chronic patellar tendinopathy will be included in
      the study.

      Each athlete will attend one meeting in which he will perform four tests: Squat jump test,
      Drop jump test, one leg jump test and jumps 30 seconds test. The tests with and without the
      infra patellar strap will be performed using The Optojump measuring system (Microgate,
      Bolzano, Italy). In addition the athlete will grade his pain severity with and without the
      infra patellar strap, using The Visual Analog Scale (VAS).There will be no follow up, all the
      data will be collected in one session.

      Data will be collected between january 2012 and december 2012, data analysis and summary of
      the study will be finished at december 2013.

      Statistical Analysis: In order to examine the difference between the tests results with and
      without the infra patellar strap, dependent t- test will be performed. Significant level will
      be set at P<0.05.
    

Intervention name(s): patella knee strap
Intervention type(s): Device
Intervention description(s): infra patella strap 100% cotton pressure is exerted immediately under the patella
Other intervention name(s): FDA regulation number 890.3475
Intervention model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Supportive Care
Keywords: patellar tendinopathy; jumper's knee