PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS FOR THE STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PATELLAR TENDINOPATHY.

Patellar tendinopathy is characterised by localised pain of the proximal insertion of the patella tendon and can have a significant impact on the functionality and performance of elite athletes. This paper is intended to reveal effective strategies for the treatment of patellar tendon pain, so that the strength and conditioning coach can safely and successfully return an athlete to sport. The management of patellar tendinopathy focuses on progressively developing the load tolerance of the tendon, primarily through isometric and eccentric based exercises in the early stages of rehabilitation. The reintroduction of running and jumping occurs in the mid-stage of rehabilitation, before an eventual return to training and sport specific movements, occurring in the end stage. Conversely, athletes should avoid stretching and complete rest as these can have a negative impact on the tendon and the reloading strategies. The use of a pain monitoring scale is another effective tool that assist practitioners to determine if the load is being tolerated appropriately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]