Jumper’s Knee (Patellar Tendonitis): Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Jumper's knee, known medically as patellar tendonitis, is an overuse injury of the patellar tendon, the strong band of tissue that connects the kneecap to the shinbone and helps you straighten your knee. It causes pain at the front of the knee, just below the kneecap, and it is especially common in athletes who jump and land often. The name says a lot about the cause, but the good news is that most cases improve with the right rest and a gradual return to activity.

If you have nagging pain at the front of your knee that flares with activity, it helps to understand what is going on. The board-certified and fellowship-trained knee and sports medicine specialists at Resurgens Orthopaedics diagnose and treat jumper's knee at locations across metro Atlanta, to get you back to the activities you enjoy.

What Is Jumper's Knee?

The patellar tendon connects the bottom of the kneecap, or patella, to the top of the shinbone, or tibia. It works with the thigh muscles to straighten the knee every time you stand, walk, jump or climb stairs. Jumper's knee happens when repeated stress on this tendon causes small tears faster than the body can repair them. Although the condition is often called tendonitis, which suggests inflammation, longer-standing cases involve gradual wear and breakdown of the tendon, sometimes called tendinopathy, more than simple swelling. That is part of why patellar tendonitis responds better to a steady, progressive plan than to rest alone.

What Causes Jumper's Knee?

Jumper's knee is an overuse injury, so it usually builds up over time rather than from a single moment. Common causes and risk factors include:

Sports that involve a lot of jumping and landing, such as basketball, volleyball and track and field
Running, especially on hard surfaces or with a sudden increase in distance or intensity
A rapid jump in training volume without enough time to adapt
Tight or weak thigh and hamstring muscles, which place more load on the tendon
Muscle imbalances or alignment differences in the legs, including a high-riding kneecap, that add strain to the knee
Carrying extra body weight, which increases the load on the tendon

Jumper's Knee Symptoms

The main symptom is pain at the front of the knee, right below the kneecap. Symptoms often build gradually and can change as the condition progresses. Common signs include:

Pain and tenderness just below the kneecap, where the tendon attaches
Pain that worsens with jumping, running, squatting or climbing stairs
Pain at the start of activity that may ease as you warm up, then return afterward
Stiffness in the knee, especially after sitting for a while with the knee bent
A feeling of weakness in the knee during activity

Please Note: Pushing through patellar tendon pain tends to make it worse and slower to heal. If knee pain does not settle with a few days of rest, keeps coming back or limits your activity, it is worth having a knee specialist evaluate it before it becomes a longer-term problem.

How Jumper's Knee Is Diagnosed

Jumper's knee is usually diagnosed with a physical examination. Your physician will ask about your symptoms and activities, press along the tendon to find the tender spot below the kneecap and check the strength and movement of the knee. Imaging is not always needed, but an X-ray can rule out other problems, and an ultrasound or MRI can show the tendon in more detail and confirm the diagnosis when symptoms are stubborn or the picture is unclear.

Jumper's Knee Treatment

Most cases of jumper's knee improve without surgery. The aim is to calm the pain, then gradually rebuild the tendon's ability to handle load so it can return to activity. Recovery takes patience, and rushing back too soon is a common reason the problem lingers.

Non-Surgical Treatment

Conservative care is almost always the starting point:

Relative rest, easing off the activities that trigger pain while staying active with low-impact options like swimming or cycling
Ice and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication to ease pain after activity, though their role is limited since this is often a tendon wear problem more than simple inflammation
Physical therapy with a progressive strengthening program, the cornerstone of recovery, often uses eccentric and heavy slow resistance exercises to gradually rebuild the tendon and the thigh muscles that support it
Stretching of the quadriceps and hamstrings to reduce strain on the tendon
A knee strap or brace to support the tendon during activity

Your physician may discuss an injection in some cases, though corticosteroid injections are used cautiously here, since they can weaken the tendon. Other options, such as platelet-rich plasma injections or shockwave therapy, are sometimes considered for stubborn cases, though the evidence for them is mixed. A physical therapist can guide you on which exercises to do and when to progress them, so you build the tendon back up safely rather than reinjure it.

Surgical Treatment

Surgery for jumper's knee is rare and is considered only when the pain is severe, has lasted a long time and has not responded to a full course of non-surgical care. When it is needed, it is usually done arthroscopically through small incisions. Options include arthroscopic debridement, in which the surgeon removes damaged tendon tissue, and arthroscopic resection of the lower part of the kneecap, in which the surgeon addresses the area of bone that is stressing the tendon. Your Resurgens surgeon will explain whether a procedure makes sense for your situation.

Schedule an Appointment for Knee Pain

If knee pain is keeping you from the activities you love, a knee specialist can find the cause and help you recover the right way. Book an appointment online today with a Resurgens knee specialist or call us at (404) 847-9999.

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