Jumpers Knee

Also known as Patellar tendinitis / patellar tendinopathy

The patella tendon attaches the knee cap or patella to the shin bone (tibia) at the front. With repeated strain, micro-tears as well as collagen degeneration may occur as a result in the tendon causing pain at the bottom of the knee cap.

Jumpers knee should be distinguished from patella tendonitis where jumpers knee is a degeneration of the tendon and tendonitis is an acute inflammation of the tendon.

Signs and Symptoms:

• The bottom and front of the knee will be painful, particularly when pressing in just at the bottom of the patella..
• After exercise the knee may be stiff or ache..
• Pain when the quadriceps muscles are tightened..
• Swelling or thickening of the tendon.

Runners knee may seem like a minor niggle and many athletes continue to train and compete on it. However, if neglected to become chronic it can be very difficult to treat and may require surgery.

Treatment

This depends on the extent or grade of the injury:

Grade 1: Pain only after training

• Cold therapy to the injury after each training session. The treatment must be at the point of pain on the knee.
• Wear a heat retainer or support.
• See a sports injury specialist / therapist who can apply sports massage techniques and advise on rehabilitation. An eccentric strengthening programme is generally recommended.

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

• You need to reduce the load on the tendon. Stop jumping or sprinting activities and replace them with steady running or swimming / running in water if necessary.
• Visit a sports injury specialist for rehabilitation and sports massage.

Grade 3: Pain during activity which prevents you from training / performing at your best.

• You need to stop doing the activity that causes pain in the injury. If possible train in water (swimming, running) if the injury allows it.
• Visit a sports injury specialist for rehabilitation and sports massage.

Grade 4: Pain during every day activities which may or may not be getting worse.

• Rest for a long period of time (at least 3 months!).
• Visit a sports injury specialist for rehabilitation and sports massage.
• If the knee does not respond to rehabilitation then consult an Orthopedic Surgeon as surgery may be required.

Useful Products:

• Cold Therapy - Apply cold therapy to help ease pain and inflammation.
• Jumpers Knee Strap - Helps to relieve pain and reduce some of the dynamic forces on the patella tendon.

Please see the Sportsinjuryclinic.net for more information on how to treat Jumpers Knee and other causes of knee pain.