Background: Patellar tendinopathy (PT) is a highly prevalent injury among jumping athletes. The long-term prognosis of athletes with PT following physical therapy is unknown. Purpose: To assess self-perceived recovery rate and the 5-year change in pain levels, disability, and sports participation, and to explore the prognostic factors associated with self-perceived recovery. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Athletes with PT who were previously enrolled in a randomized trial and received education, load management advice, and exercise therapy instructions at baseline were eligible. An online questionnaire was sent 5 years after inclusion. Self-perceived recovery was assessed by a dichotomized 7-point global rating of change (recovery was defined as “significantly improved” to “completely recovered”). Pain levels during sports (0-10 points) and disability assessed by the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment–Patellar (VISA-P) score were recorded at baseline and 5 years. Sports participation was categorized into return to performance, return to sport, return to participation, and quitting sports. Nonparametric tests were performed to compare scores at baseline and 5 years. Logistic regression models were used to identify prognostic factors. Results: Of 76 eligible participants, 58 (76%) responded (mean age, 30 years [SD, 4 years]; 28% female). At a mean follow-up of 5 years, 76% of participants felt recovered. Pain levels during sports (median, 7 points [IQR, 7-8 points] to 2 points [IQR, 1-4 points]) and VISA-P score (median, 57 [IQR, 45-66] to 82 [IQR, 74-97] points) significantly improved from baseline to 5 years (all P < .001). In total, 41 participants (71%) returned to their desired sports (68% to performance and 32% below preinjury level), 12 participants (21%) returned to participation in other sports, and 5 (9%) completely ceased sports participation. Participants who felt unrecovered had higher levels of pain and disability and lower return to performance (all P < .05). No prognostic factors were identified that were associated with self-perceived recovery. Conclusion: Athletes with PT after physical therapy can expect a generally acceptable long-term prognosis. However, almost one-quarter did not feel recovered and perceived worse patient-reported outcomes. Clinicians treating athletes with PT may use these findings to estimate the average prognosis.

中文翻译：

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接受物理治疗的髌腱病运动员的长期预后：5 年随访时患者报告的结果


背景：髌腱病 （PT） 是跳跃运动员中非常普遍的损伤。物理治疗后患有 PT 的运动员的长期预后尚不清楚。目的： 评估自我感知的恢复率和疼痛程度、残疾和运动参与的 5 年变化，并探讨与自我感知恢复相关的预后因素。研究设计：队列研究;证据水平，3.方法：先前参加过随机试验并在基线时接受教育、负荷管理建议和运动治疗指导的 PT 运动员符合条件。纳入 5 年后发送在线问卷。自我感知的恢复是通过二分法的 7 分全球变化评分来评估的（恢复定义为“显着改善”到“完全恢复”）。在基线和 5 年时记录运动期间的疼痛程度 （0-10 分） 和由维多利亚运动评估研究所髌骨 （VISA-P） 评分评估的残疾。体育参与分为恢复表现、恢复运动、恢复参与和退出运动。进行非参数检验以比较基线和 5 年的评分。采用 Logistic 回归模型确定预后因素。结果：在 76 名符合条件的参与者中，58 名 （76%） 做出了回应 （平均年龄，30 岁 [SD，4 岁];28% 为女性）。在平均 5 年的随访中，76% 的参与者感觉康复了。 运动期间的疼痛程度 （中位数，7 分 [IQR，7-8 分] 至 2 分 [IQR，1-4 分]）和 VISA-P 评分 （中位数，57 [IQR，45-66] 至 82 [IQR，74-97] 分）从基线到 5 年显著改善 （均 P < .001）。总共有 41 名参与者 （71%） 恢复了他们想要的运动 （68% 恢复了表现，32% 低于受伤前的水平），12 名参与者 （21%） 恢复了参加其他运动，5 名 （9%） 完全停止了运动。感觉未恢复的参与者疼痛和残疾水平较高，表现恢复率较低 （均 P < .05）。未确定与自我感知恢复相关的预后因素。结论： 物理治疗后患有 PT 的运动员可以预期普遍可接受的长期预后。然而，近四分之一的人感觉没有恢复，并且认为患者报告的结果更差。治疗 PT 运动员的临床医生可能会使用这些发现来估计平均预后。