Patellar Tendonitis, also known as Jumper's Knee, is an overuse injury or inflammation of the cord-like tendon that joins the patella (kneecap) to the tibia (shin bone). It is essentially caused by the repetitive stress placed on the patellar of quadriceps tendon during jumping.
Jumper’s Knee is an injury that is most commonly found among athletes, particularly those participating in jumping sports such as basketball, volleyball, or high or long jumping. It can seem like a minor injury that is not really serious due to the fact that it typically presents as a dull ache or tenderness around the patella. Because of this, many athletes keep training and competing and tend to ignore the injury or attempt to treat it themselves. Jumper’s knee is a serious condition that will get worse over time and ultimately require surgery if not treated properly at early onset.
Symptoms of jumper’s knee consist of pain at the bottom front of the kneecap over what is called the lower pole of the patella. The bottom of the patella is generally very tender to palpation and may appear larger or thicker than the unaffected side. The athlete is likely to experience aching and stiffness after exercise and pain when contracting the quadriceps muscles in acute cases. In particular, jumping activities are likely to cause most pain or discomfort.
Jumper’s knee is essentially an overuse injury. With repeated strain, micro-tears as well as collagen degeneration may occur in the tendon. Being sure to address your symptoms will keep your symptoms from worsening and/or becoming chronic.
Although it is an overuse injury, there are a number of factors which may make it more likely to suffer from this injury including poor foot biomechanics, weak quadriceps muscles and incorrect training practices. Here at Knoxville Spine and Sports, we can help you discover and address such issues to help expedite your recovery and get you moving and training optimally.
If you suffer from any of these symptoms related to Jumper’s Knee, contact us today! We can help find and treat the source of your symptoms and get you back on the road to playing sports and performing as usual!