Jumpers knee (patella tendinosis)

Jumpers knee (patella tendinosis) is a very common painful condition affecting athletes, in which the tendon attaching the kneecap to the leg bone just below the kneecap is affected by tendinosis.

It is particularly common in sports involving lots of jumping such as volleyball and basketball. But the injury can occur in any sport where the leg is repetitively forcefully straightened.

Without appropriate management and treatment, symptoms are often long lasting. One study found that the average duration of symptoms was around three years, resulting in long-standing impairment of athletic performance.

Variable contributing and maintaining factors include reduced hip, knee and ankle joint range of movement, and weak and/or shortened buttock, thigh and leg (gluteal, quadriceps, hamstrings and calf) muscles.