A common sports injury, the term ‘jumper’s knee’ is often used to refer to patellar tendonitis or inflammation of the tendon connecting the kneecap to the shin. The condition can cause pain in your lower back and knees. The increased use of jumping activities or exercises (such as running) will exacerbate this issue. Jumpers’ knee is also called runner’s syndrome. It’s worth noting that this condition can occur even with minimal activity and sometimes without any precipitating event — these cases are termed degenerative or chronic forms of jumper’s knee.
8 causes of jumpers’ knee
1. Inflammation of the tendons
The most commonly affected knee is the right. This is likely because more people are right-handed and right-footed, thus causing more strain on the right leg. Jumper knee affects many physical types and ages but is most common in middle-aged men. The injury generally occurs in an area with a high rate of repetitive stress due to jumping or running motions. This can lead to tendinitis or inflammation of the tendons.
2. Poor shoes and tight muscles
Other causes can be poor shoes or tight muscles. Poor shoes can affect your muscles’ tightness and even your legs’ tendons. When a muscle is overused, there may be an imbalance between the support of your muscle and the force you need to move.
3. Jumping and running
Jumping and running are natural human activities. When doing these activities, our muscles must adapt to accommodate new stresses on our joints (joints are where our bones come together). In many cases, this adaptation means we have a slightly increased risk of developing a jumper’s knee.
4. Genetics
There may also be a genetic component to this condition. People with close relatives with knee problems may have a higher risk of developing a jumper’s knee. However, this isn’t the case in all cases, and this is not the only reason you may develop a jumper’s knee.
5. A change in ligament tissue
The area where jumping can lead to an injury, especially in sports is called the patellar tendon. This tendon attaches your kneecap to your shin bone. An injury at the wrong time can occur here, leading to inflammation of the tendons around the joint, which connects your bones.
6. Inactivity and excess weight
Inactivity and excess weight can also affect your body in ways that may increase your risk of developing a jumper’s knee. If you are inactive or overweight, your muscles may become weaker, which means they don’t support your joints as well as they would if you were more physically fit.
7. Undiagnosed conditions
Some types of injury can go undiagnosed for a long time or not be diagnosed until after the damage has been done. Sometimes, this is because people don’t seek medical advice or have no visible symptoms.
8. Misaligned pelvis
If your pelvis is out of alignment it will alter your biomechanics creating more stress on one leg compared to the other. This extra wear and tear can lead to tissue damage and inflammation.
Visit our experts to treat your Jumper’s Knee
Inflammation is the main characteristic of jumpers’ knee. It manifests itself as stiffness and pain in the anterior part of the knee and may also extend down to the back of our lower leg. In many cases, there are no symptoms such as swelling or bruising.
Other symptoms include:
- Clicking and catching in your knee joint when you bend your knees.
- Standing up or walking.
- Swelling in the back of your lower leg.
Chiropractors can do so much more than just heal an injury. Contact us today and find out how we can help you.
