Jumpers Knee

What is jumpers knee?

Jumper's knee is the name often given to pain at the bottom of the patella or knee cap where the patella tendon (or ligament as it is sometimes called) attaches. The patellar tendon joins the kneecap (patella) to the shin bone or tibia and is placed under a lot of strain during jumping.

Overuse can result in inflammation or degeneration of the tendon and pain. Although jumpers knee is often called patella tendinitis, the correct term is usually patella tendinopathy. Tendinitis would indicate an acute or recent and painful inflammation of the tendon whereas tendinopathy means degeneration of the tendon which is much more common.

Symptoms

• Pain at the bottom and front of the kneecap especially when pressing in or palpating (video).
• Aching and stiffness after exercise.
• Pain when contracting the quadriceps muscles.
• A thickening of the painful tendon may be seen.

Treatment

Grade 1: Pain only after training

• Continue training but apply cold therapy to the injury after each training session.
• Wear a knee support.
• See a sports injury specialist / therapist who can apply cross friction massage and advise on rehabilitation.

Grade 2: Pain before and after exercise but which reduces once warmed up.

• Avoid training which makes it worse. Stop jumping or sprinting activities and replace them with running, swimming or running in water if necessary.
• See a sports injury specialist who can apply massage techniques and advise on rehabilitation.

Grade 3: Pain during activity which prevents you from training properly.

• Rest completely from the aggravating activity and training.
• See a sports injury specialist / therapist who can apply sports massage technique.

• Rest for at least 3 months.
• See a sports injury specialist / therapist who can advise on treatment and rehabilitation.
• For long term chronic injuries an Orthopaedic Surgeon may operate.

Further information

• Jumpers knee - for further information on treatment including rehabilitation, taping, sports massage, stretching and more visit sportsinjuryclinic.net