Patellar Tendonitis (Jumper's Knee)

What is patellar tendonitis?

Patellar tendonitis, also called jumper's knee, is inflammation in the band of tissue (the patellar tendon) that connects the kneecap (patella) to the shinbone (tibia).

How does it occur?

The most common activity causing patellar tendonitis is too much jumping. Other repeated activities such as running, walking, or bicycling may lead to patellar tendonitis. All of these activities put repeated stress on the patellar tendon, causing it to be inflamed.

Patellar tendonitis can also happen to people who have problems with the way their hips, legs, knees, or feet are aligned. This alignment problem can result from having wide hips, being knock-kneed, or having feet with arches that collapse when you walk or run, a condition called over-pronation.

The patellar tendon may sometimes tear completely, or rupture, during strenuous activity.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms may include:

pain and tenderness around the patellar tendon
swelling in your knee joint or swelling where the patellar tendon attaches to the shinbone
pain with jumping, running, or walking, especially downhill or downstairs
pain with bending or straightening the leg
tenderness behind the kneecap.

If your patellar tendon is ruptured, usually you will have sudden severe pain and you will be unable to straighten your leg or walk.

How is it diagnosed?

Your health care provider will examine your knee to see if you have tenderness at the patellar tendon. He or she will also have you run, jump, or squat to see if this causes pain. Your feet will be examined to see if you have a problem with over-pronation. Your provider may order x-rays or an MRI of your knee.

How is it treated?

Treatment may include:

applying ice to your knee for 20 to 30 minutes every 3 to 4 hours for 2 to 3 days or until the pain and swelling go away.
taking anti-inflammatory medicine or a pain medicine prescribed by your health care provider.
wearing a band across the patellar tendon, called an infrapatellar strap, or a special knee brace. The strap or brace will support your patellar tendon, preventing it from becoming overused or more painful.
wearing shoe inserts, called orthotics, for over-pronation. You can buy orthotics at a pharmacy or athletic shoe store or they can be custom-made.

If your patellar tendon is ruptured, you will need surgery right away to repair it. If you have a lot of scar tissue in or around your tendon causing pain, you may need surgery to remove it.

How long will the effects it last?

The effects of patellar tendonitis vary. A tendon that is only mildly inflamed and has just started to hurt may improve within a few weeks. A tendon that is significantly inflamed and has been painful for a long time may take up to a few months to improve. You need to stop doing the activities that cause pain until your tendon has healed. If you continue doing activities that cause pain, your symptoms will return and it will take longer to recover.

When can I return to my normal activities?

Everyone recovers from an injury at a different rate. Return to your activities will be determined by how soon your knee recovers, not by how many days or weeks it has been since your injury has occurred. In general, the longer you have symptoms before you start treatment, the longer it will take to get better. The goal of rehabilitation is to return you to your normal activities as soon as is safely possible. If you return too soon you may worsen your injury.

You may safely return to your normal activities when, starting from the top of the list and progressing to the end, each of the following is true:

Your injured knee can be fully straightened and bent without pain.
Your knee and leg have regained normal strength compared to the uninjured knee and leg.
Your knee is not swollen.
You are able bend, walk, and squat without pain.

How can I prevent patellar tendonitis?

Patellar tendonitis is usually caused by overuse during activities such as jumping or running or biking uphill. It can best be prevented by having strong thigh muscles.

The following may also help prevent injury:

When you exercise, wear shoes that fit properly and are right for the activity.
Gently stretch before and after exercising.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIA File BJM3197F.HTM Release 9.0/2006