We take this opportunity to have Dr. Kevin McIntyre of Burlington Sports Therapy introduce Jumper's Knee.

Jumpers knee is a common term used to describe an overuse injury to the patellar tendon.  The technical term for this tendon injury is patellar tendinosis or patellar tendinopathy and is estimated to affect 45% of elite volleyball players.

So how do we apply our newest understandings of “Jumper's Knee” to the athlete at risk? If a coach or trainer notices any of the above findings in one of their athletes they should be urged to try a soft landing technique, bending both the ankles and knees as much as possible to absorb the force of landing. If symptoms are present, frequency and intensity of jumping may need to be reduced. Supporting the patellar tendon with a brace to help alleviate pain. Of course, we always recommended that you consult with a doctor so that your condition can be diagnosed prior to any treatment.

According to the most current literature, patellar tendinosis is largely due to the eccentric load placed on the patellar tendon. That is, the tendon is lengthened under load when lowering for a jump and when bending the knee upon landing. (For an explanation of “eccentric contraction” please refer to our previous post about the prevention of hamstring strain). According to a study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, athletes who experienced patellar tendinosis had a tendency to land with a lesser degree of ankle and knee joint flexion on initial impact. That is, they didn't bend their knees or ankles during landing to the extent of other athletes. The study also found that the rate at which the knee is forced into flexion upon landing may be a risk factor in the development of patellar tendinopathy.