What is a Jumper’s Knee?

by Sam Walton Sr. Business Analyst

Jumper’s knee, or patellar tendonitis, is a painful condition of the knee. The condition is characterized by inflammation of the patellar tendon. This tendon connects the kneecap to the shinbone or tibia.

Jumper’s knee is often the result of overuse sports injuries that result in pain and tenderness around the patellar tendon and are cause due to –

flexing and jumping
landing over and over on hard surfaces
repeated stress strains the tendon

Some other conditions may have similar symptoms jumper’s knee, so how do you know if you have jumper’s knee? Here’s what you need to know.

Risk Factors for Jumper’s Knee

The following can put you at risk for Jumper’s Knee –

running and jumping
sudden increases in the level and duration of exercise
not properly stretching
having tight or “cold” muscles, especially in the thigh
muscular imbalance with certain muscles being noticeably stronger than others
chronic illnesses like diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and certain metabolic diseases can interrupt blood flow to the knee
overtraining on hard surfaces
if you are –

o knock-kneed

o bow-legged

o have an abnormally tall or short patella

Symptoms of Jumper’s Knee

The symptoms of Jumper’s knee are –

pain and tenderness of the patellar tendon
pain when jumping, running, or walking
pain when you try to straighten the knee
tenderness in the lower part of the knee where it joins the shin

Initially, the pain may occur only after a hard workout but over time but it can gradually worsen and become limiting.

Knowing for Sure

Unlike other tendonitis, patellar tendonitis does not usually present with much inflammation. In fact, jumper’s knee is often mistaken for tendinosis, which is a tendon injury without inflammation.

There are four stages of Jumper’s knee.

Stage I = pain after activity, but not during activity
Stage II = pain during and after activity without any performance impairment
Stage III = pain during and following activity and difficulty trying to play at ability level
Stage IV = Complete tear of the tendon requires surgery to repair, inability to play

Treatment

Left untreated, Jumper’s knee can ultimately cause tears in the tendon that would need surgery.

The initial treatment of patellar tendonitis includes a combination of NSAIDs, RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation), activity modification and stretching and muscle strengthening exercises for relief. If these treatments fail to provide relief, your doctor might advise steroid injections. Your orthopedic doctor is the best person to help you decide the best course of action.

To learn more about orthopedic treatments, such as knee arthritis and Achilles tendonitis treatment, call one of the best orthopedic doctors in Phoenix AZ, call Phoenix Shoulder and Knee at 480-219-3342. Dr. Adam Farber is a Fellowship Trained, Board Certified Phoenix and Scottsdale orthopedic surgeon specializing in Sports Medicine.