Jumper's Knee

By Alis Brown
HoopGurlz Columnist
Posted Wed, 06/13/2007 - 07:42 It starts as something you might be tempted to ignore, but preventive measures usually are the best way to go.

---

The patellar tendon joins the knee cap (patella) to the shin bone (tibia), allowing the quadriceps to straighten the leg. When jumping, the quadriceps straighten the knee to push you off the ground as well as stabilize the leg upon landing. This tendon is quite strong ,but can come under tremendous stress in athletes who execute the quick changing of direction and the rise and fall of jumping.

When degeneration and micro tears of the patellar tendon occur this is called Patellar Teniopathy; aka, Patellar Tendonitis or Jumper's Knee.

Often this injury can feel like nothing more than a minor irritant, somewhat easy to ignore and may generally feel better after a good night's sleep. However, if ignored, over time that little nothing can become a chronic condition that may be very difficult to treat and possibly even require surgery.

Symptoms of Jumper's Knee:

• Pain at the bottom of the knee cap.
• Pain that is magnified by kneeling or squatting.
• Aching and stiffness after exertion.
• Pain when the quadriceps are contracted.
• One knee appears larger than the other.

Preventative Measures:

• Apply ice/cold after each practice.
• Wear a knee support.
• Receive regular sports massage to the knee.

As always, if pain prevents you from training see a sports injury specialist and rest completely.

---

Click Here for More Body Balance

---

Alis Brown, LMP - Full Body Balancing
Alis has been practicing massage therapy in the Seattle area for more than 10 years. She specializes in Therapeutic Bodywork relating to injury treatment and restorative health. Therapeutic Bodywork is one of the most effective treatments in preventative care and injury recovery chosen by athletes today. Consider adding it to your self-care and preventative maintenance plan. For questions, comments or to schedule an appointment with Alis, call 206-250-0550. To suggest column topics, use the "Ask Alis" category on our Contact form.

---