Patellar Tendonitis (Jumper's Knee)Not what you're looking for? Show
What is jumper's knee?Jumper's knee, also known as patellar tendonitis, is a condition characterized by inflammation of your patellar tendon. This connects your kneecap (patella) to your shinbone (tibia). Jumper’s knee weakens your tendon, and, if untreated, can lead to tears in your tendon.
What causes jumper’s knee?Jumper’s knee is caused by overuse of your knee joint, such as frequent jumping on hard surfaces. It’s usually a sports-related injury, linked to leg muscle contraction and the force of hitting the ground. This strains your tendon. With repeated stress, your tendon may become inflamed. What are the symptoms of jumper's knee?Following are the most common symptoms of jumper's knee:
The symptoms of jumper's knee may look like other conditions or medical problems. Always see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis. How is jumper's knee diagnosed?In addition to a complete medical history and physical exam, your healthcare provider may use an X-ray to help diagnose jumper's knee. How is jumper's knee treated?The best treatment for jumper's knee is to stop any activity that’s causing the problem until the injury is healed. Other treatment may include:
Key points about jumper's knee
Next stepsTips to help you get the most from a visit to your healthcare provider:
Medical Reviewer: Thomas N Joseph MD Medical Reviewer: Stacey Wojcik MBA BSN RN Medical Reviewer: Stacey Wojcik MBA BSN RN © 2000-2022 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions. Not what you're looking for? OverviewWhat is the patellar tendon?The patellar tendon connects the bottom of the kneecap (patella) to the top of the shinbone (tibia). Despite its name, the patellar tendon is actually a ligament. Tendons connect a muscle to a bone. Ligaments connect two muscles. The patellar tendon provides stability, holding bones together. It also works in tandem with the quadriceps (thigh) muscle and other connective tissues to help you move. You couldn’t straighten your knee or jump without it. What is patellar tendonitis?Patellar tendonitis happens when the patellar tendon tissue becomes inflamed (swollen) or irritated. Overuse usually causes this knee injury. It typically affects athletes at the height of their game. Patellar tendonitis may cause minor to severe knee pain. Pain tends to worsen over time. Left untreated, pain and soreness may become debilitating. Patellar tendonitis pain may affect your athletic performance. In severe cases, it may stop you from participating in an activity altogether. What is jumper’s knee?Jumper’s knee is another name for patellar tendonitis. This injury commonly affects professional basketball and volleyball athletes. Repeated jumping motions slowly strain the patellar tendon over time. Symptoms and CausesWhat causes patellar tendonitis?Patellar tendonitis happens when someone pushes knee tendon tissues too far, or too fast, over and over again. Repeated jumping and sprinting motions stress and strain the bands of patellar tendon tissues. Over time, lots of minor strains and tiny tears make the tendon tissues weak and sore. This injury happens slowly over a long time. Medical experts still have unanswered questions about how or why patellar tendonitis occurs. Healthcare providers believe two main types of activities damage tendon tissues:
Can patellar tendonitis lead to a tendon tear?Yes. Patellar tendon tears (or ruptures) are acute injuries that happen suddenly. In some cases, repeated overuse over a long time can cause the patellar tendon tissue to abruptly tear. Patellar tendon tears often happen when you land from a jump or suddenly change direction while running. A rip may go partway or all the way through tendon tissue. Who gets tendonitis?Anyone can get tendonitis. Tendonitis can affect tendons in many areas of the body, such as the elbow, shoulder or hip. Who is more likely to have patellar tendonitis?Certain factors can affect your likelihood of developing patellar tendonitis:
What activities are more likely to lead to patellar tendonitis?Any activity that puts a lot of stress on your knee (such as from repeated jumping) could increase your risk of developing patellar tendonitis. These activities include:
What are the symptoms of patellar tendonitis?Symptoms of patellar tendinitis include:
What does patellar tendonitis feel like?Patellar tendonitis symptoms usually get worse, slowly. At first, you may feel only minor knee pains. Discomfort may happen rarely, and only after physical activity. Over time, pain may get sharper and more severe. You may start to feel pain during physical activity. If left untreated, patellar tendonitis can sometimes become debilitating. Symptoms may make routine tasks (such as climbing stairs or standing up) painful. Even sitting may cause discomfort. Diagnosis and TestsHow is patellar tendonitis diagnosed?To diagnose patellar tendonitis, your healthcare provider will first take a thorough medical history. That may include asking you about your activity level and symptoms. Be sure to tell your provider if your symptoms have changed over time. Your provider will perform a physical exam to evaluate your symptoms. They may press all along your patellar tendon knee to gauge where it hurts. Gently moving your knee in different directions can help your provider evaluate your range of motion. What tests might I have for patellar tendonitis?Imaging tests don’t always capture clear details of subtle overuse injuries to tendon tissues. However, your provider may order an X-ray to rule out other potential causes of your pain around your kneecap. In advanced or prolonged cases of patellar tendonitis, both ultrasound and MRI can observe structural damage to the patellar tendon. Management and TreatmentHow is patellar tendonitis treated?Patellar tendonitis treatments mostly focus on managing your symptoms and strengthening the soft tissues in your knee. At first, your provider may ask you to try conservative therapies, such as rest. In minor cases, these measures may be enough to relieve your pain. If the condition doesn’t go away, your provider may recommend you:
PreventionHow can I prevent patellar tendonitis?To reduce your risk of a sports injury, take these steps before you start any physical activity:
Outlook / PrognosisHow long does it take for patellar tendonitis to heal?Healing takes time. The details of your recovery (such as what it looks like and how long it takes) will depend on many factors that are specific to you. You may start feeling better after a few weeks of taking it easy. Yet someone with more severe patellar tendonitis may find it challenging to stay on top of chronic pain. Try not to rush your body through recovery. Pushing your body before it’s fully healed can damage tendon tissues more, which may set your recovery back. Living WithWhen should I call the doctor?Reach out to your provider for an evaluation if you experience:
What should I ask my healthcare provider?If you have patellar tendonitis, you may want to ask your provider:
A note from Cleveland Clinic Recovering from a sports injury such as patellar tendonitis can be frustrating. You may feel tempted to cut your recovery short. But pushing your body too fast, too soon, has the potential to further damage already weakened tendon tissues. Instead, consider sitting down with a provider you trust to talk openly about your expectations. Work with your provider to develop a treatment and rehabilitation plan that fits your goals and prioritizes your long-term health. What injury causes pain above the knee?Common causes of pain above your knee include quadricep or hamstring tendonitis, arthritis, and knee bursitis.
What is it called when you overuse your knee?Patellofemoral pain — This is the most common cause of overuse knee pain. It causes pain in the front of the knee or deep in the knee behind the kneecap which worsens with squatting, running, prolonged sitting, or when climbing or descending steps.
What does overuse injury in knee feel like?What are the symptoms of knee overuse injuries? Symptoms can vary based on the injury that is present. Common symptoms include pain, difficulty moving the knee, swelling, loss of sensation, tingling and numbness and other symptoms.
What is the muscle just above the knee?The quadriceps tendon is located just above the kneecap (patella) and connects the quadriceps muscles in the front of the thigh to the top of the kneecap.
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