Jumper's knee is an injury of the patellar tendon. The patellar tendon is the cord-like tissue that joins the patella (kneecap) to the tibia (shinbone).
Common symptoms of jumper's knee include:
Jumper's knee is an overuse injury (when repeated movements injure a part of the body). It happens when frequent jumping, running, and changing direction damages the patellar tendon. It's also called patellar tendonitis.
Jumper's knee usually affects people who play sports where there is a lot of jumping and running, such as track and field, basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, running, and soccer.
To diagnose jumper's knee, health care providers:
Treatment for jumper's knee includes:
If someone with jumper's knee does not rest the knee, the tendon can become more damaged. Although it is not common, surgery may be needed if:
It will probably take a few weeks to months for your child to recover from jumper's knee.
To help your child heal as quickly as possible, follow your health care provider's instructions about:
After recovery, your child should always stretch before and after sports, and avoid overtraining. This can help prevent jumper's knee and other sports injuries too.
Reviewed by: Alvin Wei-i Su, MD
Date Reviewed: Jan 14, 2019
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