CONDITION: Jumper's Knee

DESCRIPTION:

Jumper's knee is a condition of the tendon that passes from the quadriceps muscle (the large muscle at the front of the thigh) over the kneecap (patella) to connect to the shinbone (tibia). It is common among athletes who play “jumping” sports such as basketball and volleyball, but can also occur in athletes involved in soccer, aerobics, track and field or any sport that involves excessive running and jumping (see figure) . If the condition is restricted to an inflammation of the tendon, it is called chronic Jumper's Knee, or patellar tendonitis. If degeneration of the tendon is involved, it's called chronic Jumper's Knee, or patellar tendinosis.

How does Jumper's Knee develop?
Jumper's Knee is a syndrome that results from overuse, such as repetitive or power jumping (see figure) . As a result, the patellar tendon experiences swelling and inflammation due to repetitive or power jumping. If left untreated, small tears and degeneration of the tendon will occur. As the condition worsens, the cartilage and ligaments of the knee can also be affected. Jumper's Knee may also be the result of poor muscle flexibility. In addition, if the ligaments of the knee are lax or weakened, this can increase the likelihood that an individual who engages in activities that stress the knee will develop Jumper's Knee.

What are the symptoms of Jumper's Knee ?
Pain ranging from a dull ache to a severe, sharp pain in the front of the knee characterizes this disorder. Athletes often experience pain in the front of the knee accompanied by tenderness over the area between the kneecap and the shinbone. As the inflammation progresses and degeneration occurs, the pain felt during sports activities increases, and will eventually even be experienced at rest.

Conventional medical treatments may help relieve the symptoms of Jumper's Knee , but they do not address the root of the problem. By strengthening structural weaknesses in the body, as natural medicine treatments like Prolotherapy do, pain associated with Jumper's Knee may be alleviated permanently.

Discover why we believe that natural medicine treatments are the best way to treat Jumper's Knee.

Click here to read Prolotherapy research by Dr. Ross Hauser and his team on Prolotherapy injections for knee pain and degeneration.

Click here to read a patient’s story of Prolotherapy injection treatment saving him from bilateral knee replacements. This story was published in the Journal of Prolotherapy.