Jumper's Knee: An Epidemiological Study of Volleyball Players

Abstract

In brief: We studied 407 volleyball players to investigate the factors that cause patellar or quadriceps tendinitis (jumper's knee). Athletes from 30 teams in various divisions of the Italian Volleyball Federation championship were interviewed personally or by questionnaire. Factors investigated included age and sex, years of play, frequency of training sessions and games, type of playing surface, and type of training. The results showed that symptoms occurred most often among athletes playing five times a week or more and among those playing on hard surfaces, such as cement. Age, sex, years of play, and type of training were less significant factors.