Are you highly active and participate in high impact activities? Check out this article shared by San Diego Sports Physical Therapy and come see us for help with your injuries!
By Dino Pinciotti, PT
The knee joint is one of the most frequently injured areas in the human body, especially for those involved in any type of athletics. Classified as a hinge joint, the knee is much more complicated than this description suggests. This joint is heavily dependent on the soft tissue that surrounds it – muscles, tendons, ligaments, capsule, and cartilage, which serve to straighten, twist, and rotate the knee and leg.
Jumper’s Knee is common among those who participate in jumping sports such as volleyball and basketball. It is an inflammation of the tendons that attach the quadriceps muscle above and below the knee to the femur and tibia respectively. The tendon above the knee is known as the quadriceps tendon and the one below as the patellar tendon. In conjunction with the quadriceps muscle, these tendons play an integral part in walking, running, jumping, and climbing stairs.
Putting constant stress on the knee over time can cause micro tears in the tendons causing pain and inflammation, which results in swelling, loss of motion, and weakness. Patients most commonly complain of pain with stair climbing, squatting, kneeling, jumping, running, and walking. Ascending stairs is usually more painful than descending stairs.
Treatment consists of immediate reduction of the inflammation via cryotherapy (ice), medication, and rest. Physical therapy should begin as soon as the pain has diminished. After a thorough evaluation by a physical therapist, an appropriate treatment specific to the injury will be implemented. A skilled therapist will prescribe a program consisting of modalities, manual techniques, and therapeutic exercises to control pain, reduce inflammation, and increase strength, flexibility, and muscle endurance of the injured area. Stretching and strengthening the quadriceps muscle is the key to successful rehabilitation of Jumper’s Knee. Those individuals at risk for developing Jumper’s Knee can benefit from a preventive program to help avoid this injury, as well as other common knee problems.
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