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What Is Patella Tendonitis?

Patella tendonitis---aka patellar tendonitis or jumper's knee---is inflammation of the patellar tendon, which is located below the knee cap. This tendonitis usually occurs when the knee is overused, either by frequent jumping or quick directional changes.

  1. Causes

    • Aside from the aforementioned repetitive movements, other factors such as obesity, tight leg muscles and leg misalignment can also contribute to patellar tendon injury.

    Symptoms

    • As with any tendon injury, pain is usually the first sign of a problem. At first you may only experience this pain after working out or walking up or down stairs, but soon the ache may become constant.

    Diagnosis

    • Some cases may be diagnosed simply by the symptoms exhibited, whereas others may require further testing to rule out other possible conditions. Your doctor may order an ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to verify the diagnosis.

    Treatment

    • Patella tendonitis is a soft tissue injury, meaning the best treatment is rest and immobilization. Apply ice regularly to reduce swelling and pain.

    Complications

    • Ignoring the pain of patella tendonitis can hurt more than your knee because other complications, including weakened leg muscles and complete tear of the tendon, can occur.

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