ips-aiims

Jumper’s Knee

How in the world did the term "jumpers knee" evolve?

Hmmm... lets see now. Because you jump a lot?

You are indeed a genius!

But that's not the only cause of this very common chronic overuse injury/condition.

We are in the final weeks of the winter sports season and some of the kids, particularly in the sport of basketball, have been battling jumpers knee for a few weeks while others have been battling it for a few years!

Years?

Absolutely! I see more chronic patella tendinitis (which is a more medically correct term for jumpers knee) in today's athletes than ever. As a matter of fact I don't remember anyone having this condition back in the day. I'm sure some kids had a bout or two with this but very few and not to the extend I see in today's athletes.

So what does jumping have to do with it?

Well, if you look at the very powerful quadriceps muscle group you'll notice that they insert into the proximal or top part of the patella or knee cap. At the distal or bottom part of the patella is where the true patella tendon begins. This patella tendon travels distally and inserts into the tibial tuberosity, that boney bump at the top and front of your tibia or shin bone. If you've ever had Osgood Schlatters disease as a kid you know exactly where this boney landmark is.

When the quadriceps forcefully contract they generate a considerable amount of force that runs down through the patella, patella tendon, and to it's insertion on the proximal tibia to extend the lower leg and allow jumping to occur.

Obviously in the "court sports", basketball and volleyball in particular, the amount of jumping is never ending. These activities also require considerable lateral movement which requires a constant stance of knees flexed and butt down. This ongoing "good stance" further places significant stress on these jumping components.

Another common cause of this condition that I frequently see is in weight training kids that do a lot of deep squats, power cleans, and clean and jerk lifts. Jumpers knee isn't just for jumpers anymore. The overload power lifting often seen in off season football weight training has it's fair share of cases also.

So does the whole patella tendon hurt?

I suppose it can. But far and away the largest site of jumpers knee pain is at the top of the patella tendon, at it's origin into the distal apex of the patella. And it is painful, debilitating, and very difficult to resolve through conservative treatments. I'm especially referring to kids that have chronic, long term symptoms for 1-3 years and have tried seemingly everything to get rid of it. And nothing seems to work.

So what kind of treatment does "everything" consist of?

First of all, giving advise on any injury or condition, you always have to start by seeing your local physician or physician of your choice first (if your insurance allows!). But please be advised that some of these physicians don't understand jumpers knee/patella tendinitis from a bad case of hemorrhoids and care about as much. They're simply going to give you prescription of drugs and hopefully, a prescription to a reputable Physical Therapist or Athletic Trainer. Do your homework on the therapist part prior to seeing the physician so you can assist in recommending the prescription.

Modify your activity level! This has to happen if you ever expect to get over anything! This doesn't necessarily mean completely stopping what you're doing but you must identify the specific activities that are causing you the pain and eliminate them from your daily routine. Competitors hate this but you're beating a dead horse otherwise.

Ice massage- 2, 3, 4, 5...... times per day 10-12 minutes each time. Get yourself some 7 oz. paper cups, fill them about