Jumper's knee (patellar tendinopathy or patellar tendinitis) is injury and inflammation at the patellar tendon attachment to the kneecap, resulting from repetitive jumping and landing forces.
Jumper's knee is one of several conditions that cause anterior knee pain and can be difficult to distinguish clinically. Related conditions include Patellar Dislocation, which involves the patellofemoral mechanism, and Osteochondral Defects, which can develop at the patellar articular surface. A knee MRI is the best way to differentiate between these overlapping diagnoses.
Causes
Jumper's knee is typically seen in sports such as basketball and volleyball where athletes jump and land on hard surfaces. Chronic repetitive distractive forces at the patellar tendon attachment to the patella produce micro-tearing and inflammation. If left untreated, bone avulsions from the inferior patella, macroscopic tearing of the patellar tendon, and inflammation of Hoffa's fat pad (the fat pad cushion behind the kneecap) may also occur.
Symptoms
Anterior knee pain and tenderness localized to the inferior patella (kneecap). The pain is worse with jumping, walking, and running.
Diagnosis
A physical exam by a doctor is performed to evaluate for anterior pain and tenderness. X-ray may be performed to exclude a bone avulsion injury of the patella or a patellar fracture.
A knee MRI will show partial tearing or inflammation at the posterior central origin of the patellar tendon and often edema in the adjacent Hoffa's fat pad. MRI is also essential to rule out other contributing conditions including chondromalacia patella, patellofemoral arthritis, patellar tracking disorders, fat pad impingement, synovitis, and meniscus tears.
The term jumper's knee is used for adults, while Sinding-Larsen-Johansson disease — a related subtype — is seen in active children between 10 and 14 years old.
Treatments
Treatment is conservative and includes rest, icing, NSAIDs, and stretching exercises.
Related Knee Conditions
- Patellar Dislocation
- Meniscus Tear
- Osteochondral Defect
- ACL Tear
- MCL and LCL Sprain
- Back to all Knee Conditions
Get an MRI to Confirm Your Diagnosis
Before surgical planning or starting treatment, a clear MRI diagnosis ensures the right path forward. First Look MRI offers self-pay Knee MRI scans — no doctor's order or insurance required — at our locations in Georgia, Texas, and Colorado.