Jumper's Knee (Patellar Tendonitis)

What Is Jumper's Knee?

Jumper's knee is an injury of the patellar tendon. The patellar tendon is the cord-like tissue that joins the patella (kneecap) to the tibia (shinbone).

Signs & Symptoms

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Jumper's Knee?

Common symptoms of jumper's knee include:

• pain below the kneecap, especially during sports, climbing stairs, and bending the knee
• a swollen knee joint
• knee stiffness

Causes

What Causes Jumper's Knee?

Jumper's knee is an overuse injury (when repeated movements injure a part of the body). It happens when frequent jumping, running, and changing direction damages the patellar tendon. It's also called patellar tendonitis.

Jumper's knee usually affects people who play sports where there is a lot of jumping and running, such as track and field, basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, running, and soccer.

When to Call the Doctor

Many injuries and conditions can cause knee pain, so a doctor should examine your child to see what is causing the pain.

Don’t delay getting help because this could cause an injury to get worse.

Diagnosis

How Is Jumper's Knee Diagnosed?

To diagnose jumper's knee, healthcare providers:

• ask about symptoms
• do a physical exam
• order imaging tests such as an X-ray or MRI, if needed

Treatment & Care

How Is Jumper's Knee Treated?

Treatment for jumper's knee includes:

• rest and taking a break from sports
• ice
• taping or wearing a knee support or strap just under the patella
• sitting with the leg raised
• ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, or a store brand) to help with pain and swelling
• massage therapy
• strengthening and stretching muscles through physical therapy or an at-home exercise program

If someone with jumper's knee does not rest the knee, the tendon can become more damaged. Although it is not common, surgery may be needed if the:

• pain does not go away
• patellar tendon is more damaged than is typical with jumper's knee

Recovery

It will probably take a few weeks to months for your child to recover from jumper's knee.

To help your child heal as quickly as possible, follow your healthcare provider's instructions about:

• which activities to avoid
• which activities are OK (for example, swimming may be fine while your child is healing)
• strengthening exercises
• making and keeping all follow-up doctor visits

What Else Should I Know?

After recovery, your child should always stretch before and after sports, and avoid overtraining. This can help prevent jumper's knee and other sports injuries too.