EFFECT OF A STRUCTURED STRENGTH TRAINING PROGRAMME ON PAIN AND FUNCTION IN ATHLETES WITH PATELLAR TENDINOPATHY (JUMPER'S KNEE): AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63001/tbs.2026.v21.i02.S.I(2).pp22030-22047Keywords:
Dry needling, patellar tendinopathy,, jumper's knee, Visual Analogue Scale,, strength training, athletes.Abstract
Background: Patellar tendinopathy ("jumper's knee") is an overuse injury of the knee extensor mechanism seen
frequently in jumping- and sprinting-based sports, producing activity-related anterior knee pain that is disabling
for competitive athletes. Exercise-based rehabilitation is well established, but the additional pain-relieving value
of dry needling layered onto a strength-training programme has not been adequately isolated in observational,
real-world sporting cohorts.
Background: Patellar tendinopathy ("jumper's knee") is an overuse injury of the knee extensor mechanism that
is common in physical activity involving jumping or sprinting and causes activity related anterior knee pain that
is disabling for competitive athletes.Exercise-based rehabilitation is a well-established technique, but the
additional pain-relieving effects of dry needling on a strength training program has not been adequately isolated
in observation, real world sporting cohorts.
Objective: To compare the effect of dry needling combined with a strength-training programme against strength
training alone on pain among athletes with patellar tendinopathy.
Methods: The study included 60 athletes (18-35 years old) with a clinically diagnosed patellar tendinopathy
who were randomly divided into two groups: Group A (n=30 strength training programme alone,) and Group B
( n=30 dry needling plus the same strength training programme,).Both groups were treated 5 days per week for
4 weeks. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to measure pain at baseline and at 4weeks.
Results : Both groups showed a significant reduction in VAS from baseline to 4 weeks ( Group A: 6.50±1.11 to
5.43±1.10,t= 11.22, p < 0.001; Group B: 6.50±1.11 to 3.57±0.82,t= 25.12,p< 0.001) At 4 weeks, Group B's pain
was significantly lower at 4 weeks than Group A's (mean difference 1.87, t=7.44, df=58, p<0.001).
Conclusion: Adding dry needling in a strength training program significantly reduces short-term pain in athletes
with Jumper's knee more effectively than strength training alone.
