Intervenção em fatores da cadeia cinética no tratamento da tendinopatia patelar: um relato de caso

Abstract

Changes in kinetic chain factors have been reported in athletes with patellar tendinopathy, however, interventions involving it are still scarce. This report sought to verify the effect of an intervention aimed at some of these factors on pain, symptom severity, strength, flexibility and biomechanics of the jump landing in an athlete with patellar tendinopathy. The participant was a 33-year-old male jiu-jitsu athlete with a history of pain in the patellar tendon for 3 years. Pain, symptom severity and athlete's perception of improvement were measured using the Visual Analogue Scale, the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Patella questionnaire and the Global Change Scale, respectively. It was evaluated before the intervention, after 12 weeks of intervention and after 6 months of the end of the intervention. In addition, isometric muscle strength of the hip extensors, knee extensors and flexors, and ankle plantar flexors, ankle dorsiflexion flexibility, and jump landing quality were assessed before the intervention and after 12 weeks. The athlete underwent 12 weeks of a supervised intervention aimed at improving these kinetic chain factors. After 12 weeks, the athlete showed important improvements, which were maintained after 6 months post-intervention. This case report exemplified how a 12-week intervention targeting kinetic chain factors reduced pain, disability and promoted gains in strength and flexibility in the lower limbs in an athlete with patellar tendinopathy.