Jumper's knee is the common name for enthesopathy, an injury to the patellar tendon attachment.

It is a common injury in athletes whose sports involve jumping.

Symptoms

  • pain at the front of the knee, particularly below the kneecap and at its lower edge
  • pain in this area that increases when descending stairs and contracting the quadriceps muscle
  • swelling below the kneecap

Diagnostics

  • Diagnosis is based on a thorough medical history and orthopaedic examination.
  • Helpful tests include ultrasound to assess inflammation, X-rays to assess patellar alignment, and MRI to assess degeneration of the tendon attachment.

Treatment

  • Initial treatment addresses symptoms using anti-inflammatory medicines and physical treatments: iontophoresis, shockwave therapy, cryotherapy and ultrasound.
  • Treatment of jumper's knee usually centres on exercises supervised by a physiotherapist. Initially, exercises within a pain-free range and proprioception exercises are introduced. Eccentric quadriceps exercises are essential, followed over time by closed kinetic chain exercises. The exercise programme lasts 12 weeks and usually results in recovery.
  • In rare cases that do not respond to conservative treatment, platelet-rich plasma is injected at the tendon attachment. Surgery is sometimes also performed, involving arthroscopic release of the patellar retinacula or drilling at the tendon attachment.

Classification

  • pain after exercise
  • pain before and after exercise that subsides after warming up
  • pain throughout physical activity or training
  • persistent pain that may lead to rupture of the patellar tendon