Common Conditions

Jumper's Knee

Symptoms, Common Causes and Treatments

Understanding Jumper's Knee: Patellar Tendinopathy

Patellar tendinopathy, also known as jumper’s knee, is one of the more common pain conditions at the front of the knee, in addition to patellofemoral pain syndrome. The source of pain is located at patellar tendon, which connects the quadriceps muscle, the patella and the tibia.

What is Patellar Tendinopathy?

Patellar tendinopathy is characterized by localized pain, which is proportionate to the relative load, at the patellar tendon. For those with patellar tendinopathy, one-legged jumps are more painful than two-legged jumps, and two-legged jumps are more painful than squats.

Symptoms of Patellar Tendinopathy

Localized tenderness on the patellar tendon;
Pain is aggravated by explosive movements, such as jumping and sprinting;
Pain is more pronounced at the beginning of exercise and subsides after warming up;
The pain is more obvious 24-48 hours after exercise.

Causes of Patellar Tendinopathy

While excessive load may be the primary cause of patellar tendinopathy, there may be other underlying causes as well:

Overuse

Patellar tendinopathy can occur when the load exceeds the capacity of the patellar tendon. The most common cause is a spike in training load (in terms of intensity, frequency or technical difficulty) over a short period of time, resulting in pain or discomfort in the tendon.

Weakness of the quadriceps muscle

The patellar tendon connects the quadriceps muscle to the patella and tibia. The quadriceps muscle is responsible for straightening the knee, which is the main power generating muscle for standing, running, jumping, squatting, etc. If the strength, endurance, and power of the quadriceps are not sufficient to cope with the exercise, the stress on the patellar tendon will increase.

Deficits from the kinetic chain

The knee is not the only joint involved in running, jumping or squatting. The mobility and strength of neighboring joints like the hip and ankle can affect the load going through the knee and the patellar tendon. Stiff ankle or hip joints, or weak gluteal or calf muscles would place a higher load on the patellar tendon when exercising.

Stages of Patellar Tendinopathy

Reactive Tendinopathy

This is a temporary phase immediately after strenuous exercise. During this stage, water content is accumulated inside the tendon to relieve the tension of the tendon, resulting in a moderate of amount of swelling. With rest, the edema will dissipate naturally.

Degenerative Tendinopathy

If strenuous exercise persists during the stage of reactive tendinopathy, the water content accumulated inside the tendon will not be able to dissipate in time, which will lead to disorganization of collagen arrangement in the tendon, diminishing the elasticity and strength of the tendon. At the same time, new nerves and blood vessels are formed within tendon, making it more sensitive. This stage of tendinopathy is irreversible.

Treatment of Patellar Tendinopathy

The treatment of Patellar Tendinopathy usually focuses on the tendon itself, but the direction of treatment depends on the cause of the problem, which could be distant from the knee joint. It is essential to identify and treat the cause of the issue.

Biomechanical Assessment

Common movements such as jumping, running and squatting are comprehensively analyzed. Necessary adjustments are made to minimize stress and discomfort to the trapezius tendon.

Manual Therapy

Mobilisation of the knee and hip joints, as well as soft tissue release of nearby muscles to increase the joint mobility.

Trigger Point Acupuncture

Dry needles can be directed to the trigger points of tight muscles to provide muscle relaxation, as well as to the patellar tendon itself for pain relief.

Electrotherapy

Common types of electrotherapies include shockwave, interferential therapy and high-energy inductive therapy, all of which can provide pain relief to the patellar tendon.

Exercise Therapy

Mainly focuses on the strength, endurance and power of the quadriceps muscle. If weakness is detected in other relevant muscles, corresponding strengthening is also needed.

Exercise Bandages

Kinesio-taping can be used to reduce stress on the patellar tendon during exercise and help reduce swelling.

Testimonials & Reviews

After suffering years of chronic knee issues after ACL reconstructive surgery I was recommended to this clinic and the results were amazing. The centre does not only focus on pain relief but with an extremely holistic approach, assesses the root cause of pain and focuses on return to sports and performance once the pain diminishes. Most physiotherapy centres in Hong Kong do not even offer this level of attention to detail and service and would highly recommend to anyone having chronic pains or want to have proper post orthopaedic surgery rehabilitation!

Arnold Woo

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I had never been a believer in physio therapy in the past or that my experience with multiple chain medical physiotherapy center had brought me nothing but temporary improvements. Until I had came across mobilize physiotherapy where they take the extra mile to examine your situation and tailor a physiotherapy session. The physiotherapists at Mobilize not only identifies the root cause and provide massages for pain relievers but also to provide take home exercises for improvements. I was never rush out the door for the next session and they ensure that I had receive the right treatment before the session ends.
I would highly recommend this physiotherapy center.

Edmond Chan

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I came to them with chronic neck and knee issues, and they didn't just provide massage therapy. They took the time to thoroughly evaluate the source of my problems and develop a comprehensive treatment plan.
Through a combination of targeted hands-on therapy, customized strengthening exercises, and patient education, they helped me regain mobility and address the root causes of my pain. I learned the correct ways to strengthen the muscles and improve my posture to prevent future issues.
The staff is incredibly knowledgeable, taking the time to explain everything and ensure I understood how to continue my progress at home. Thanks to their expertise and dedication, I'm now pain-free and able to return to my regular activities without any limitations.

Arthur Liu

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Very professional therapy that doesn't only focus on passive treatment but also targets training of weak spots to improve overall performance and physiological sustainability.

Felix Lo

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Will was very professional. He was very thorough with the assessment and suggested different exercises for me to improve my condition. Recommended 👍🏾

Keith So

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I can't recommend my physio partner enough! They are always patient and provide valuable guidance to help me relieve chronic pain and improve my performance in jiu-jitsu. Their expertise has been invaluable to me. Highly recommended!

Felix Kung

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