Knee pain develops in many forms, but for active adults, one common issue that can develop is known as Jumper’s Knee. Like many knee conditions, it often develops as a result of overstress and overuse, and unless it is proactively treated, symptoms can linger for an extended period. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at the causes, symptoms and treatment options for Jumper’s Knee.
Causes And Symptoms Of Jumper’s Knee
Jumper’s Knee, also known as patellar tendonitis, is an all too common knee condition that is the result of inflammation of your patellar tendon. Your patellar tendon attaches your kneecap to your shinbone, and chronic tendon inflammation can increase its risk of a tear and lead to instability in the knee complex.
As you can probably imagine given the name, Jumper’s Knee is typically caused by frequent and repetitive stress on the knee joint, like what you might experience if you’re jumping or pushing off with your knee with great force. It’s very common among athletes, especially those who play on harder surfaces, like basketball and volleyball players. And while sport and repetitive overstress are two of the biggest contributors to Jumper’s Knee, other factors can also increase a person’s risk of developing the condition. These factors include overtraining, inadequate warm-up routines, poor athletic form and muscular imbalances in the quadriceps and hamstrings.
Symptoms of Jumper’s Knee include:
- Localized pain, particularly near the bottom of the kneecap
- Tenderness
- Swelling
- Stiffness
- Discomfort that worsens during or immediately after activity
- Inhibited gait
Diagnosing And Treating Jumper’s Knee
Jumper’s Knee is a condition we help treat with regular frequency at OrthoRehab Specialists. One of the best things about connecting with OrthoRehab Specialists to manage your knee issue is that you can treat the condition so much faster if you head straight to a physical therapist’s office instead of waiting to be seen by your primary care physician. Remember, you don’t need a referral to seek out physical therapy, and since your primary care doctor will almost certainly suggest that you pursue physical therapy, you can save some time and money by heading directly to a PT clinic.
During your initial assessment, your physical therapist will examine your knee and ask you questions about your symptoms and their onset. They’ll also have you perform a few different movement tests to see how your knee responds to different stress patterns. Coupled with information about your exercise or athletic habits, and an accurate diagnosis can typically be made during the first session. Once your physical therapist has determined that your discomfort is likely housed in the patellar tendon, they can develop an individualized treatment program that helps you overcome the issue once and for all.
Every treatment program will be unique to the individual, but there are some common ways that your physical therapist will work to help you overcome your patellar tendonitis. The first recommendation will likely be some short-term rest or specific activity avoidance. You’re going to need to step away from the activities that are causing the inflammatory response for a short while to really give the healing process time to run its course. Normal daily activities are fine, but activities that overly strain the knee should be avoided.
Once inflammation has resolved, your physical therapist will work with you to strengthen your knee joint and the structures that either support or take stress off the patellar tendon. Without strength training or muscular balance exercises, inflammation is likely to return as you get back to sporting activities. You need to rework your knee complex so that it is better suited to handle the strain you put on it so that the tendon isn’t overworked during athletics. A couple of weeks of targeted strength training exercises can do wonders for putting your Jumper’s Knee to bed for good.
Finally, a physical therapist can help with a reintegration program for your specific sport. Don’t expect to jump right back into full sporting activities, as this is a quick way to overstress your knee as it’s working to get reacclimated to higher levels of strain. A targeted training program paired with endurance and conditioning exercises can ensure your knee is ready to meet the demands of your sport without issue. Your recovery timeline will vary based on the significance of your tendonitis, but many athletes can return to full sporting activities within a few weeks to a few months.
For more information about Jumper’s Knee, or for help overcoming a different physical issue, reach out to the team at OrthoRehab Specialists today at (612) 339-2041.
PT of Costa Rican National Soccer Team for 2007 World Cup in Victoria, CAN. Clinical Instructor for University of Minnesota Doctor of Physical Therapy Affiliations
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