Honors Theses

Advisor

Matthew Beerse

Department

Health and Sport Science

Publication Date

4-1-2022

Document Type

Honors Thesis

Abstract

Osgood Schlatter’s Disease (OSD) is a disease that results in a painful inflammation of the tibial tuberosity caused from overuse of the knee as the apophyseal growth plate is continuing to close in adolescence. As this condition arises from too much tension on a closing growth plate, it is most prevalent in children 8-15 years old, and especially common in athletes. The purpose of this study is to examine the peak patellar tendon force experienced from a variety of movements common in sport. 30 subjects performed a walk, run, hop, single-leg hop (SLH), countermovement jump (CMJ), single-leg CMJ, drop vertical jump (DVJ), single-leg DVJ, drop landing (DL), and single-leg DL on force plates. The single-leg movements were all measured for each subject’s right leg. Statistical analysis revealed the bilateral DVJ had the greatest amount of average max patellar tendon force in body weights (BW) of force, followed by DL, CMJ, run, hop, and walk, respectively. Average Max Patellar Tendon Loading Rate in BW/s, a rate of force per second, also showed that DVJ values were greatest, followed by DL, CMJ, run, hop, and walk, respectively. DVJ was the only condition evaluated that showed a significant difference between bilateral and unilateral movements, according to post hoc analysis. Bilateral movement showed greater average max patellar tendon force values for the three movements with the greatest force output – DVJ, DL, and CMJ. Coaches, physicians, athletes, and parents can utilize the study’s findings to modify, or be cautious, of movements for athletes with OSD, as greater patellar tendon force values might increase the risk of developing OSD and avulsion fractures of the tibia. The DVJ, DL, and CMJ should be of particular importance when evaluating motion and proper techniques to reduce force experienced at the patellar tendon, especially for athletes with OSD.

Permission Statement

This item is protected by copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code) and may only be used for noncommercial, educational, and scholarly purposes.

Keywords

Undergraduate research

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences | Sports Sciences

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