Wildcats High Performance Recognised in Groundbreaking Research

The Perth Wildcats medical and high performance staff are global leaders in basketball injury management and prevention.

As world experts, Wildcats Head of Physiotherapy Daniel Webster and Club Sports Scientist Luciana Pérez were invited by A/Prof Myles Murphy from The University of Notre Dame Australia to contribute to a new assessment tool designed to quantify the severity of patellar tendinopathy, commonly known as jumper’s knee.

Working alongside A/Prof Myles Murphy and an international panel of leading clinicians and researchers, Webster and Pérez contributed to the development of the TENDINopathy Severity Assessment – Patellar (TENDINS-P), a new patient-reported outcome measure designed to assess the severity and impact of patellar tendinopathy.

The publication represents a significant achievement for the Wildcats High Performance department, with the research set to be read and utilised by sports medicine and performance practitioners around the world.

Patellar tendinopathy is one of the most common injuries in basketball and elite jumping sports, making the development of accurate assessment tools critical in both clinical and high-performance environments.

The TENDINS-P assesses three key areas including general pain, function and pain experienced during loading activities such as jumping, landing and cutting movements, while also helping track an athlete’s improvement or deterioration over time.

The research brought together patients, healthcare professionals and international research experts to help ensure the tool accurately captured the real-world impact of patellar tendon-related disability. Designed to be both practical and accessible, the TENDINS-P can be completed in less than 10 minutes and used across both clinical and research settings.

The work conducted by Webster and Pérez has been undertaken through Edith Cowan University in Perth as part of the club’s ongoing commitment to research, innovation and evidence-based high performance practices.

The Perth Wildcats congratulate Dan Webster and Luciana Pérez on their outstanding contribution and continued work advancing athlete care and high performance, helping ensure the club remains at the forefront of athlete performance and injury management.

Research Citation:
Murphy MC, Korakakis V, Scattone Silva R, Perez Armendariz ML, Cowen G, Haydock C, Kadlec D, Maffuli N, Perrot M, Webster D, Zwerver J, Rio EK. TENDINopathy Severity Assessment – Patellar (TENDINS-P): Development and Content Validity Assessment of a New Patient-Reported Outcome Measure for Patellar Tendinopathy. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy. 2026 May;56(5):300-309.

Twitter: @myles_physio @notredameaus
Instagram: @mylescalder @notredameaustralia
LinkedIn: Myles Murphy - The University of Notre Dame Australia