Learn How to Treat Jumper's Knee

There are a number of reasons why a person may be experiencing knee pain, and one of those reasons could be jumper's knee. This is a degenerative condition in the patellar tendon that causes pain in the front part of the knee. This is also known as patellar tendinopathy. This condition occurs when the tendon that attaches the kneecap or patella to the shinbone (tibia) becomes stressed. Often, jumper's knee happens to those who are involved in sports involving jumping and changes in direction, such as soccer. Over time, if the tendon is strained over and over, it will develop tiny tears and cause much pain.

There are two sides to the patellar tendon, and Jumper's knee usually affects one side or the other, so one side of the knee will look normal, while the other side is often visibly swollen. Using ice packs will do much to decrease the inflammation, which will in turn help to reduce some of the pain. It is important to remember that if you have jumper's knee, don't think of it as a minor injury that does not need to be treated. Jumper's knee can be treated, but if it is not, there can be even more damage done to the knee over time. This is seen a lot in athletes who continue to be involved in sports regularly and do not take time out to give their knees a rest.

Symptoms

There are many symptoms involved with jumper's knee. For one thing, there is pain, which is usually felt after pressing the front and bottom of the kneecap. Many people find that when they have jumper's knee, they have stiffness and aching in the joint, and often pain is also felt when the knee muscles, particularly the thigh (quadriceps) muscle, are contracted.

Treatment

If you have problems with your knee, and do not want to give up doing your favorite sporting activities, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of further injury and to help alleviate pain and swelling. A jumper's knee brace is often recommended, and one that is highly recommended is the DonJoy Cross Strap. This is unlike most knee braces because instead of covering the knee and part of the leg, it is just a single strap that is wrapped around the leg, just beneath the knee. It places just the right amount of pressure on the tendon to help ease pain, and it is extremely easy to use, making it popular with athletes. Another option would be the ProCare Surround Patella Knee Strap, which is also a strap worn just below the knee, and it has a Floam bladder, which is a unique material that helps to provide compression to the tendon. This brace can be easily customized to fit just about anyone.

For pain management, you may be interested in trying the Aircast Knee Cryo/Cuff SC, which can be filled with ice or cold water so you have a built-in cold pack, which is ideal for easing inflammation. There is also a hand bulb, so you can measure the pressure for the best compression for you.