If you play a running or jumping sport and feel knee pain, it’s a possible sign of jumper’s knee.

Also known as patellar tendonitis, jumper’s knee is a common overuse injury among athletes in running and jumping sports. It causes knee pain and stiffness, especially during and after activity.

With the right care, athletes can overcome patellar tendonitis and return to their sport.

Learn more about jumper’s knee, including risk factors, symptoms, and treatment options.

What Is Patellar Tendonitis?

Patellar tendonitis, or jumper’s knee, is an overuse knee injury caused by repeated stress on the patellar tendon. Another term for it is patellar tendinopathy.

Jumper’s knee most often occurs in people who play sports that involve a lot of running and jumping, including:

• Basketball.
• Football.
• Gymnastics.
• Long-distance running.
• Skiing.
• Soccer.
• Tennis.
• Track and field (especially jumping competitions).
• Volleyball.

Why does my knee hurt with patellar tendonitis?

Your patellar tendon is the tendon that connects your patella (kneecap) to your tibia (shinbone). It works with your quadriceps tendon and muscle to help you extend your knee.

Certain sports require repeated jumping, acceleration and deceleration, and changes in direction. These actions put stress on the patellar tendon. Over time, this can cause small tears in your patellar tendon, which lead to knee pain and inflammation.

What Are the Risk Factors for Patellar Tendonitis?

Overuse is one of the biggest risk factors for jumper’s knee.

Overtraining — exercising for too long or not taking enough time off between workouts — stresses your patellar tendon. This can lead to small tears that your body can’t heal fast enough. Continuing to participate in the sport after feeling pain can make the injury worse.

Other risk factors for jumper’s knee include:

• Certain sports — Jumper’s knee is most common among athletes in sports that have a lot of accelerating, decelerating, changing direction, jumping and landing, and/or squatting. That can include basketball, volleyball, certain track and field events, soccer, and more.
• Excess body weight — Carrying too much weight increases the amount of stress on your lower limbs.
• Gender — Patellar tendonitis is more common in males than in females.
• Inadequate footwear — Wearing shoes that don’t offer enough support can cause greater strain to your body.
• Muscle imbalances — Tightness or weakness in the hamstrings or quadriceps can put extra strain on the patellar tendon.
• Not warming up — Failing to stretch your muscles before exercising can cause them to become tight, which can increase the stress on your patellar tendon.
• Playing surfaces — Playing on harder surfaces may result in a higher risk of jumper’s knee.
• Poor form — Problems with your technique — jumping, landing, running, and more — can put additional stress on your patellar tendon. This puts you at risk for injury.
• Structural issues — Body factors like the height of your patella and the length of your legs may affect your risk.

What Are the Symptoms of Patellar Tendonitis?

The most common symptoms of jumper’s knee are:

• Pain in the front of the knee.
• Stiffness in the knee.

The pain of patellar tendonitis is typically worse while participating in activities like running, jumping, or landing. You may also feel it if you extend your leg for a long time.

How Is Patellar Tendonitis Diagnosed?

The symptoms of jumper’s knee are similar to those of other conditions, such as runner’s knee, meniscus injuries, bursitis, and more. Because of that, it’s important to visit an experienced orthopaedic or sports medicine specialist for diagnosis.

During the visit, your doctor will ask you questions about your medical history, such as when your symptoms began and what sports you play. They’ll also perform a physical examination. If you feel pain when they press on the patellar tendon, it’s a sign of patellar tendonitis.

Your doctor may also order imaging tests like x-rays, ultrasounds, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These tests can confirm your diagnosis or rule out other conditions.

How Is Patellar Tendonitis Treated?

The most common treatments for patellar tendonitis involve rest, ice, and anti-inflammatory medications for the pain. You should avoid any activities that involve running or jumping until your doctor clears you for them. Your doctor may recommend a temporary knee brace or other supportive equipment.

Your doctor may also recommend stretches that strengthen the calves, hamstrings, and quadriceps as part of your treatment. Strengthening can help prevent reinjury.

Will I need surgery for patellar tendonitis?

Most cases of jumper’s knee will go away with rest and time. However, if your pain doesn’t go away with rest or you notice swelling, call your doctor. It’s a possible sign that you have a more significant patellar tear and need surgery.

After surgery, your doctor may recommend physical therapy to strengthen your knee and help you return to your sport.

What Is the Recovery Time for Patellar Tendonitis?

How long it takes to recover from jumper’s knee depends on how severe your injury is. If you have a milder injury, you may return within a few weeks. More severe cases, such as those involving surgery, can take several months or even over a year.

It’s important that you follow the treatment plan that your doctor recommends. You should avoid returning to your sport until cleared by your doctor.

When returning to your sport, start slowly and gradually increase your activity level as recommended by your doctor.

Can You Prevent Patellar Tendonitis?

You can lower your risk of patellar tendonitis by:

• Avoiding overuse by getting enough rest between workouts and not training year-round.
• Maintaining the proper technique for running, jumping, and landing.
• Strengthening the muscles that support your patellar tendon, including the calves, hamstrings, and quadriceps.
• Warming up and cooling down before and after workouts.
• Wearing supportive footwear for your sport.

UPMC orthopaedics and sports medicine specialists are experts in diagnosing and treating a wide range of musculoskeletal injuries. For more about the conditions we treat and the services we provide, visit our website.