Injury advice > Knee Injuries > Jumpers Knee

Jumpers Knee

Patellar tendinitis / patellar tendinopathy

What is jumpers knee / patella tendonitis?

The patellar tendon is extremely strong and is used to straighten the leg. The quadriceps use this tendon to starighten the knee when jumping and to stabilise the landing. This obviously puts the tendon under great stress and jumpers knee is likely to occur in individuals who actively put extra strain on the knee joint by rapidly changing direction or performing jumping movements.  With repeated strain, micro-tears as well as collagen degeneration may occur as a result in the tendon.

Jumpers knee should be distingushed from patella tendonitis where jumpers knee is a degeneration of the tendon and tendonitis is an inflamation of the tendon.

Jumpers knee symptoms:

  • The bottom and front of the knee will be painful, particularly when pressing in.
  • After exercise the knee will stiff and aching.
  • Pain when you contract the quadriceps muscles.
  • The affected tendon may appear larger than the unaffected side.
  • May be associated with poor Vastus medialis obliquus (VMO) function
  • Calf weakness may be present

Warning!! - This injury may seem like a niggling injury that is not that bad. Many athletes continue to train and compete on it as it may not be a debilitating injury and recovers after a short period of rest. However, neglect jumpers knee at your peril! If left to become chronic it can be very difficult to treat and may require surgery.

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 Virtual Sports Injury Clinic for more information on how to treat Jumpers Knee