Prevalence and associated factors of probable patellar tendinopathy among female athletes: a cross-sectional study

This paper reviews the current evidence on patellar tendinopathy in female athletes, with particular emphasis on epidemiology, tendon loading, associated factors, clinical presentation, diagnosis, rehabilitation, and the limitations of female-specific research. Women’s participation in sport has increased substantially, yet female athletes remain underrepresented in sport and exercise science, and sex-disaggregated analyses are still uncommon. Patellar tendinopathy is a load-related condition characterized by localized pain at the inferior pole of the patella during activities that place high demands on the knee extensor mechanism. Its prevalence varies considerably according to sport, population, and diagnostic

Method: , while female-specific epidemiological data remain limited. Current evidence supports a multifactorial mechanism involving interactions among mechanical demand, tendon capacity, training exposure, previous injury, physical characteristics, and recovery; however, no consistent female-specific risk profile has been established. Diagnosis remains primarily clinical, with imaging and patient-reported outcome measures serving supportive rather than independent diagnostic roles. Rehabilitation is centered on progressive tendon loading, strength development, load management, and gradual sport-specific reconditioning. Nevertheless, treatment studies include relatively few women and rarely report female outcomes separately. Overall, the literature is limited by underrepresentation of female athletes, inconsistent case definitions, predominance of observational designs, and insufficient prospective and intervention-based research. These gaps provide the rationale for the present study (review of literature leading to the main research) examining the prevalence of symptoms consistent with probable patellar tendinopathy and associated factors among female athletes.