Jumpers Knee

12 Pages 3081 Words

oads on the extensor tendon, performing forceful contractions of the quadriceps, performing squats with heavy weights, or even a direct hit to the area are all forces that can lead to the tendonitis (Starkey & Ryan, 2002, p.260). Having a longer playing season and longer practices could cause the inflammation. If an athlete has been inactive for a while, and then increases their practice load the overuse of jumping, running, or kicking can have an overload on the tendon. Sometimes the mechanisms can not be avoided, as with having malalignment of the patella. The malalignment can cause the patellar tendon to stretch in abnormal ways causing the
Jumper’s Knee 4

inflammation (Roy & Irvin, 1983, p.343). Other unavoidable mechanisms include having abnormalities of the tendon tissue, having patellar instability of a lateral tilt, or having Osgood-Schlatters disease as a past injury. These factors also can cause irregular placement and movement of the tendon, resulting in inflammation (Roy & Irvin, 1983, p.344).
The most common site for patellar tendonitis to occur is at the attachment of the patellar tendon to the inferior pole of the patella. Other sites include the mid-portion of the patellar tendon and at the insertion of the patellar tendon to the tibial tuberocity (Starkey & Ryan, 2002, p.260). Along with the mechanism of injury, the signs and symptoms you obtain can also help determine if an athlete has patellar tendonitis.
The most common sign or symptom an athlete has is having pain and tenderness at the inferior pole of the patella. Pain can also be experienced in the mid-portion of the patellar tendon and at the insertion of the tibial tuberocity. There also may be some swelling and crepitis (Starkey & Ryan, 2002, p.262). The swelling is localized and never generalized. The athlete may have a feeling of the knee catching, giving away, or weakness (Roy & Irvin, 1983, p. 343). The athlete might hav...