Jumper's Knee
The name "jumper's knee" was first used to describe the pain that high jumpers developed in their take-off leg. The same condition is also seen in other sports (including basketball, volleyball, long jump and weightlifting) that demand a lot of explosive power from the leg, particularly from the muscles around the knee. The patellar tendon connects the kneecap to the shinbone (tibia). Under extreme strain, such as jumping, a partial tear can occur. This can lead to swelling and tissue breakdown. Swelling can also result from overloading the patellar tendon.
Symptoms
The symptoms of jumper's knee are pain at the bottom of the kneecap, which worsens when pressure is applied. Tensing the thigh muscles (quadriceps) also increases the pain, and after exercise you may notice pain and stiffness in the knee.
The pain can be classified into the following stages:
- Grade 1: Pain occurs only after training.
- Grade 2: Pain is present both before and after training, but eases once the warm-up is complete.
- Grade 3: Pain can become unbearable during training, forcing you to stop.
- Grade 4: The knee complaints affect all daily activities, not just training.
Causes
Jumper's knee is a classic overuse injury. Overuse occurs when the load placed on the knee exceeds what the knee and thigh muscles can handle. High loads can result from exercises that are too difficult or too heavy, too much repetition of movements in training programmes, and sinking too deep on take-off or landing. Reduced load tolerance can be caused by insufficient strength and coordination in the thigh muscles, an abnormal alignment of the leg, knee or foot, a rapid growth spurt relative to age, or deviations in the normal function of the knee.
Treatment
When symptoms develop gradually, it's important first and foremost to stay alert to your body's signals rather than simply "pushing through the pain". It's also worth checking whether the cause might lie in your footwear, training routine, training frequency, or a recent change to any of these. Adjusting the training load — in intensity, duration and frequency — is important, and at this stage is often enough to keep the injury under control.
It's also worth noting that although rest reduces symptoms, it isn't a real solution to the underlying problem. The load does need to be adjusted to match what the knee can currently tolerate, but complete rest will ultimately only cause a further decline in muscle strength, which in turn makes the knee and patellar tendon even more vulnerable to new injury. In addition, a GP may prescribe anti-inflammatory medication (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen to reduce inflammation in the knee.
Physiotherapy treatment
Physiotherapy treatment consists of both passive and active therapy. Passive treatment may include dry needling, kinesiology tape or transverse friction massage. Active treatment may include strength training of the leg muscles, for example using the FitVibe. Useful aids are also available, such as a Push patella brace, which reduces the pull of the tendon on the kneecap.