Prevalence of Jumper's Knee among Elite Athletes from Different Sports: A Cross-sectional Study

The prevalence of jumper's knee across different sports has not been examined, and it is not known if there is a gender difference. Data from surgical case series indicate that there may be a high prevalence in sports with high speed and power demands. HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of jumper's knee in different sports among female and male athletes and to correlate the prevalence to the loading characteristics of the extensor mechanism in these sports. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 4.

The authors examined approximately 50 Norwegian male and female athletes at the national elite level from each of the following 9 sports: athletics (male athletes: high jump, 100- and 200-m sprint), basketball (male athletes), ice hockey (male athletes), volleyball (male athletes), orienteering (male athletes), road cycling (male athletes), soccer (male and female athletes), team handball (male and female athletes), and wrestling (male athletes). The examination included an interview on individual characteristics (weight, age, height, and training background), a clinical examination, and self-recorded Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment score from 0 (worst) to 100 (best).