Patellar tendinitis

Not to be confused with anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Patellar tendinitis
Other namesquadriceps tendinopathy, patellar tendinopathy, jumper's knee, patellar tendinosis, patellar tendinitis
Location of the pain in patellar tendinitis
SpecialtyOrthopedics, sports medicine
SymptomsPain at the front of the knee[1]
ComplicationsPatellar tendon rupture[2]
Risk factorsJumping sports, being overweight[1]
Diagnostic methodBased on symptoms and examination[2]
Differential diagnosisChondromalacia patella, Osgood-Schlatter disease, patellofemoral syndrome, infrapatellar bursitis[1][2]
TreatmentRest, physical therapy[2]
PrognosisRecovery can be slow[2]
Frequency14% of athletes[1]

Patellar tendinitis, also known as jumper's knee, is an overuse injury of the tendon that straightens the knee.[1] Symptoms include pain in the front of the knee.[1] Typically the pain and tenderness is at the lower part of the kneecap, though the upper part may also be affected.[2] Generally there is no pain when the person is at rest.[2] Complications may include patellar tendon rupture.[2]

Risk factors include being involved in athletics and being overweight.[1] It is particularly common in athletes who are involved in jumping sports such as basketball and volleyball.[1][2] Other risk factors include sex, age, occupation, and physical activity level.[3] It is increasingly more likely to be developed with increasing age.[3] The underlying mechanism involves small tears in the tendon connecting the kneecap with the shinbone.[2] Diagnosis is generally based on symptoms and examination.[2] Other conditions that can appear similar include infrapatellar bursitis, chondromalacia patella and patellofemoral syndrome.[1][2]

Treatment often involves resting the knee and physical therapy.[2] Evidence for treatments, including rest, however is poor.[4][5] Recovery can take months and persist over years.[6][7][8][2] It is relatively common with about 14% of athletes currently affected; however research reflects that more than half of athletes with this injury end their careers as a result.[9][8][1] Males are more commonly affected than females.[2] The term "jumper's knee" was coined in 1973.[2]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j King D, Yakubek G, Chughtai M, Khlopas A, Saluan P, Mont MA, Genin J (February 2019). "Quadriceps tendinopathy: a review-part 1: epidemiology and diagnosis". Annals of Translational Medicine. 7 (4): 71. doi:10.21037/atm.2019.01.58. PMC 6409230. PMID 30963066.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Santana JA, Sherman A (January 2019). Jumpers Knee. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing. PMID 30422564.
  3. ^ a b Charles R, Fang L, Zhu R, Wang J (2023). "The effectiveness of shockwave therapy on patellar tendinopathy, Achilles tendinopathy, and plantar fasciitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis". Frontiers in Immunology. 14: 1193835. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2023.1193835. ISSN 1664-3224. PMC 10468604. PMID 37662911.
  4. ^ Mendonça LM, Leite HR, Zwerver J, Henschke N, Branco G, Oliveira VC (6 June 2019). "How strong is the evidence that conservative treatment reduces pain and improves function in individuals with patellar tendinopathy? A systematic review of randomised controlled trials including GRADE recommendations". British Journal of Sports Medicine. 54 (2): bjsports–2018–099747. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2018-099747. PMID 31171514. S2CID 174810797.
  5. ^ Saithna A, Gogna R, Baraza N, Modi C, Spencer S (30 November 2012). "Eccentric Exercise Protocols for Patella Tendinopathy: Should we Really be Withdrawing Athletes from Sport? A Systematic Review". The Open Orthopaedics Journal. 6 (1): 553–557. doi:10.2174/1874325001206010553. ISSN 1874-3250. PMC 3522085. PMID 23248727.
  6. ^ Nuhmani S, Muaidi QI: Patellar tendinopathy: a review of literature. J Clin Diagn Res 2018;12. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2018/35797.11605.
  7. ^ Cummings K, Skinner L, Cushman DM: "Patellar tendinopathy in athletes". Curr Phys Med Rehabil Rep 2019;7:227–36
  8. ^ a b Plinsinga M.L., Meeus M., Brink M., Heugen N., Van Wilgen P. "Evidence of Widespread Mechanical Hyperalgesia but Not Exercise-Induced Analgesia in Athletes with Mild Patellar Tendinopathy Compared with Pain-Free Matched Controls: A Blinded Exploratory Study". Am. J. Phys. Med. Rehabil. 2021;100(10):946-951. doi:10.1097/PHM.0000000000001673
  9. ^ Kettunen JA, Kvist M, Alanen E, et al: Long-term prognosis for Jumper's knee in male athletes: a prospective follow-up study. Am J Sports Med 2002;30:689–92