If you’ve been experiencing discomfort or chronic pain in your knees with physical activity, you may suffer from what’s commonly known as “Jumper’s Knee”.
What is jumper’s knee?
Jumper’s knee (also known as patellar tendinopathy or patellar tendinitis) is a form of tendinitis. To better understand tendinitis, it helps to be familiar with the anatomy of your knees:
This joint is made of the bottom part of the thigh bone (femur), the top portion of the shin bone (the tibia), and the kneecap (the patella). It is all held together by tendons and ligaments.
Jumper’s knee occurs when the tendons in your knee become injured or inflamed from repeated stress.
Jumper’s Knee Symptoms
The first sign of jumper’s knee is pain in the affected area with physical activity. Depending on the severity of the condition, the patient may feel symptoms disappear as they continue the activity. However, if left untreated, the pain will worsen. The patient may also experience discomfort when doing the following activities:
- Getting up from a sitting position
- Walking up and down stairs
- Inability to continue participating in a sport
- Weakness in the affected knee
- Inability or difficulty extending the injured knee
What causes jumper’s knee?
One of the most common causes of jumper’s knee is a sudden increase in activity level. It’s also prevalent in sports where a person is required to jump often, such as basketball. Others who experience it include:
- Runners
- Volleyball players
- Tennis players
- Soccer players
How to Prevent Jumper’s Knee
The best ways to prevent it include stretching properly before exercise, wearing shoes with appropriate cushioning for your gait, and strength training exercises for your legs, to ease some of the stress on the knee joints.
Home Remedies for Patellar Tendonitis
There are several home remedies to treat jumper’s knee. Some of them are:
- Take a break from the activities that caused the injury
- Wear a knee brace
- Elevate the knee
- Take anti-inflammatory medications, such as Ibuprofen
- Ice the knee for 20 minutes at a time twice a day
- Foam rolling
Jumper’s Knee Exercises
There are several exercises you can do for relief from jumper’s knee. See examples of some of these exercises here.
When to See a Doctor for Jumper’s Knee
If symptoms haven’t improved after taking a break from physical activity and trying home remedies and exercises (or if they get worse), seek medical attention.
Jumper’s Knee Diagnosis
When you see your doctor, he or she will have you bend the knee at different angles and may ask you to jump, kneel, or squat to determine the severity of the condition. It’s not unusual for the medical provider to want to see X-rays.
Jumper’s Knee Treatment
Once diagnosed, the following treatment options are available to alleviate the condition:
- Physical therapy
- Massage therapy
- Pain medications
- Cortisone injections
You may resume physical activity once the pain is gone. However, if you start experiencing symptoms again, stop the exercise. Continuing your workouts at the same intensity level will result in additional tears to the tendons in the knee.
Request an Appointment at The Orthopedic Clinic Today
At The Orthopedic Clinic, we want you to live your life in full motion. If you’re experiencing symptoms related to jumper’s knee, let us help you. We’ll tailor a treatment plan that’s best for your lifestyle and get you back to doing the things you love.
Call us at (386) 255-4596 to schedule an appointment.