If you’re someone who enjoys playing sports and remaining active, knee pain or other worrisome knee symptoms can greatly impact your quality of life. The orthopedic knee specialists at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio, understand that when you’re not able to do the activities you love, you’re not at your best. Our experts will work with you to determine the cause of your knee pain, including patellar tendonitis, and create an individualized treatment plan.
What is patellar tendonitis?
Patellar tendonitis, also known as jumper’s knee, occurs when the patellar tendon near the front of your knee becomes inflamed, causing pain below the kneecap and general tenderness and weakness in the knee area.
The patellar tendon is a strong piece of flexible tissue that connects the kneecap (patella) to the shinbone (tibia). When it becomes overused or stretched, usually from jumping in sports, it can lead to patellar tendonitis. While it’s usually a sports-related condition, it can happen to anyone frequently using that muscle group.
The repetitive strain injury is also sometimes called patellar tendinopathy. It’s a relatively common condition that should heal on its own in a few days with rest and other conservative therapies.
What causes jumper’s knee?
Patellar tendonitis is caused by the overuse of the patellar tendon, typically from making frequent jumps or similar motions. That’s why it’s most commonly experienced by athletes who compete in jumping sports, such as basketball or volleyball.
Patellar tendonitis symptoms
The first and main symptom of patellar tendonitis is knee pain, generally below the kneecap. Usually, the pain will start after an intense workout or game; but then gradually it will happen more frequently, impacting your ability to play your sport and even do simple daily tasks. That’s when it’s time to call a doctor.
Other symptoms of patellar tendonitis include:
- Swelling
- Tenderness below the knee, even to a slight touch
- Stiffness or weakness in the knee
- Pain with jumping, running or walking
- Pain while standing up or anytime the knee is bent
What can be mistaken for patellar tendonitis?
Because these symptoms are nondistinctive and similar to those of other knee conditions, patellar tendonitis can be mistaken for other causes of knee pain. Your doctor will need to rule out other conditions, such as:
- Osteoarthritis
- Sprain or tear of a ligament, such as the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or the medial collateral ligament (MCL)
- Meniscus injuries
- Knee sprain
How is patellar tendonitis diagnosed?
Patellar tendonitis is diagnosed through a physical examination and obtaining a detailed medical history. It’s important to talk to your knee specialist about when the pain began, what movements make it worse and whether you play sports.
During the physical examination, your provider may apply light pressure to certain areas to determine where you’re most tender and the possible injury location.
Our knee experts may also recommend the following imaging tools to help diagnose jumper’s knee or rule out other conditions:
- X-rays
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Ultrasounds
Patellar tendonitis treatment
Though patellar tendonitis can cause significant pain and even prevent you from playing sports for a while, it typically can heal within a few weeks with conservative, nonsurgical treatments.
The individualized treatment plan that the knee specialists at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center recommend may include one or more of the following:
- Activity modification
- Rest, ice, compression and elevation (the RICE method)
- Oral and topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, naproxen and diclofenac
- Knee brace or patellar tendon strap
- Physical therapy
- Injections
With an injury like jumper’s knee, it’s important to give your knee and body time to heal with rest and by changing your routine. Listen to your physician about when it might be safe to begin physical activity again.
Returning to play too early could prolong your recovery or cause further knee damage.
Knee surgery is only recommended in rare cases when the patellar tendon is torn.
How to prevent jumper’s knee
Jumper’s knee isn’t entirely preventable, especially if you play a jumping or cutting-movement sport. However, there are steps you can take to minimize your risk of patellar tendonitis or the pain it causes. To avoid overuse of the patellar tendon, you should:
- Stretch properly before physical activity.
- Take time to cool down after an intense workout.
- Rest when you’re hurting or something feels off, don’t play through the pain.
- Take a break between sports seasons, if possible, even for short periods of time.