Jumper’s Knee

Jumper’s knee, formally called patellar tendinopathy, is pain at the front of the knee, just below the kneecap. It hits anyone who jumps, sprints, or changes direction repeatedly: basketball, volleyball, soccer, running. It starts as stiffness after activity and progresses to pain during activity if ignored. The recovery is a structured loading program; we’ll build one to your sport and level.

What Jumper’s Knee feels like

• Pain at the bottom and front of the kneecap especially when pressing in or palpating
• Pain and/or swelling below the kneecap
• Pain in the quadriceps muscle
• Pain that is especially noticeable when sitting, straightening the leg, pressing against the tendon, or going up and down stairs
• Pain that increases with physical activity
• Stiffness of the knee, particularly while jumping, kneeling, squatting, sitting, or climbing stairs
• Weakness in the leg or calf
• Warmth, tenderness, or swelling around the lower knee
• Balance problems

Common causes of Jumper’s Knee

• Overdoing an activity such as running, jumping and kicking, all of which place continuous stress on the patellar tendon when it is not strong enough to handle the excessive load
• Jumper’s knee occurs in many types of athletes but is most common in sports such as track and field (particularly high jump), gymnastics, basketball, volleyball, or soccer, which require explosive jumping movements

How we treat Jumper’s Knee at Physio Wellness

There is no single fix for jumper’s knee, recovery comes from combining the right treatments for your specific situation. Your physiotherapist will assess your case in detail and recommend a plan from these proven approaches:

• Physiotherapy, Hands-on assessment and a custom exercise plan to address the root cause, not just the pain. Learn more
• Shockwave Therapy, Acoustic waves that stimulate tissue repair in stubborn, slow-to-heal injuries. Learn more

When to come in

Book a consultation if your symptoms have lasted more than a week, are getting worse, or are interfering with sleep, work, or daily activities. We offer same-week appointments and direct bill most insurers.