What is Jumper’s Knee?
Jumper’s knee is a common painful knee condition, most often seen in growing and young athletes. In its truest sense, Jumper’s knee really refers to painful inflammation of the patellar tendon. The patellar tendon is the piece of tissue that runs from the bottom of the kneecap (patella) to the front part of the shinbone (tibia). If Patellar tendon becomes inflamed or partially torn, it can produce very mild or very severe pain.
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Jumper’s knee is given its name from being an issue for people who engage in activities or sports that involve a lot of jumping and cutting (swirving) from one direction to another. It can sometimes start as a very mild pain, but if ignored, it can evolve into a much more painful process. It is most commonly seen in basketball, volleyball, and tennis.
Understanding the Anatomy of Jumper's Knee
Lets Break Down The Knee To Better Understand Jumper's Knee:
The knee is the largest joint in the body, and the patellar tendon is its largest tendon. The quadriceps muscles lay on the front side of the femur (large bone in thigh) and serve to provide stability to the knee, and to help extend and straighten the knee. The quadriceps tendon runs from the quadriceps muscles just above the knee to the patella (knee cap) then, from the kneecap, the patellar tendon travels to the front of the shin bone where it attaches.
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Due to the large amount of responsibility the patellar tendon has, as well as the required forceful contraction of the quadriceps and patellar tendon, these parts of the body often get inflamed and become painful from intense exercise.
Effective Treatments For Jumper's Knee
- Activity Modification
- Ice (15 min ice / 30 min off ice, do this 4 times a day if symptoms justify it
- Anti-Inflammatory Medication (if medically appropriate)
- Quadriceps and Generalized Knee Strengthening Exercises
- Compression Bands like the Flexxline Patellar Tendon Support Brace
The Flexxline Patellar Tendon Support Brace can provide great relief for many patients. By applying pressure along the tendon and its attachments, you can significantly disperse the forces and decrease the pain.
Most straps are either a single narrow band that doesn’t really cover all areas of pain or are too big and bulky for the knee. The Flexxline Patellar Support solves these problems with its unique design. It’s two separate patented pressure bands allow you to place it exactly where your pain is and precisely target the areas that hurt you the most.
If these simple things aren’t working you should consider seeing a physician, athletic trainer, or physical therapist for evaluation and additional recommendations.
Get Airborne Again With Flexxline's Knee Support Braces!
Flexxline Products For Jumper's Knee
Patellar Tendon Support Knee Compression Sleeve
