Jumper’s Knee Treatment
Jumper’s knee — medically known as patellar tendonitis or patellar tendinopathy — is an overuse condition in which the patellar tendon, the thick band of tissue connecting the kneecap to the shinbone, becomes inflamed, damaged, or degenerative from repetitive loading. The patellar tendon absorbs enormous force during jumping, landing, sprinting, and rapid deceleration, and over time the cumulative stress can exceed the tendon’s ability to repair itself — producing the characteristic pain below the kneecap that worsens with activity and can eventually interfere with even basic movements like climbing stairs or rising from a chair. Jumper’s knee is most prevalent in basketball, volleyball, soccer, and track and field, but it can affect any athlete or active individual whose training involves repetitive impact on hard surfaces.
Dr. Jonathan Glashow is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, sports medicine specialist, and Clinical Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, with over 30 years of experience treating tendon injuries and overuse conditions in competitive athletes. As Chief Medical Officer for the New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia 76ers — where patellar tendonitis is one of the most common performance-limiting conditions among professional basketball players — he has extensive firsthand experience managing jumper’s knee from early-stage tendinitis through advanced tendinopathy and complete tendon tears. A member of the NBA Physician’s Society and the Arthroscopy Association of North America, Dr. Glashow has performed more than 15,000 orthopedic procedures and has been named a Castle Connolly Top Doctor every year since 2000. He evaluates and treats jumper’s knee at his Upper East Side practice in New York City using a conservative-first approach, with same-day imaging available to expedite diagnosis.
Causes and Symptoms of Patella Tendonitis
Jumper’s knee, or patella tendonitis, is most common in athletes that perform repetitive jumping. Overuse of the patella tendon when jumping on a hard surface can cause strain on the tendon. The combined effort of jumping and landing can cause a patella tendon strain or inflammation. The symptoms of patella tendonitis, or jumper’s knee, include:
- Pain below the kneecap when jumping or running
- Swelling and/or tenderness in the patella tendon area
- Lower knee pain when extending or bending the leg
- Lower kneecap pain
Jumper’s knee is common in basketball players and other athletes that repeatedly run or jump on hard surfaces. Treatments are usually conservative, including rest, ice and NSAIDs, followed by physical therapy and strengthening to restore performance. For more severe inflammation, steroid injections can offer relief while recovering.
When chronic or reoccurring patella tendonitis is present, it can lead to tears on the patella tendon. If a complete tendon tear occurs, it will require surgery to repair. Dr. Glashow is a top sports medicine and orthopedic surgeon who can perform advanced treatments and surgery to repair damaged tendons and relieve jumper’s knee.
If you suffer from ongoing jumper’s knee symptoms, contact our clinic to schedule an appointment. We offer jumper’s knee treatment at our clinic on New York City’s Upper East Side.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jumper’s Knee
What is jumper’s knee?
Jumper’s knee is an overuse condition affecting the patellar tendon — the strong band of tissue that connects the bottom of the kneecap to the top of the shinbone. Repeated jumping, landing, and sprinting stress the tendon beyond its capacity to heal between sessions, leading to inflammation, microscopic tearing, and eventually degenerative changes within the tendon fibers. The medical term is patellar tendonitis in the early, inflammatory stage and patellar tendinopathy when chronic degeneration is present.
What is the difference between jumper’s knee and runner’s knee?
Despite similar names, these are two distinct conditions. Jumper’s knee — patellar tendonitis — involves the patellar tendon below the kneecap and produces pain at the bottom of the kneecap, worsened by jumping, landing, and running. Runner’s knee — patellofemoral pain syndrome or chondromalacia patella — involves the cartilage on the underside of the kneecap itself and produces pain around and behind the kneecap, worsened by squatting, stair climbing, and prolonged sitting. The location of the tenderness and the specific activities that provoke the pain help Dr. Glashow distinguish between the two during clinical examination.
Can jumper’s knee heal on its own?
Mild cases of patellar tendonitis can improve with rest and activity modification, but most cases — particularly in athletes who continue training through the symptoms — do not resolve without a structured treatment approach. The tendon’s blood supply is relatively poor compared to muscle tissue, which slows its natural healing. Dr. Glashow typically recommends a progressive eccentric strengthening program (exercises that load the tendon while it lengthens), activity modification, ice, anti-inflammatory medications, and in some cases PRP injections or other biologic therapies to support tendon healing. Continuing to train through worsening jumper’s knee significantly increases the risk of progressing from tendonitis to chronic tendinopathy or a complete tendon tear.
When is surgery necessary for jumper’s knee?
Surgery is considered only after a comprehensive course of conservative treatment — typically six months or longer — has failed to provide adequate relief. The most common surgical approach involves arthroscopic debridement of the damaged, degenerative portion of the tendon, sometimes combined with removal of thickened tissue at the lower pole of the kneecap to reduce friction. In cases of complete patellar tendon rupture — a more severe injury that can result from neglected chronic tendinopathy — open surgical repair with suture anchors is required. Dr. Glashow exhausts all non-operative options before recommending any surgical intervention.
How long does recovery take?
Recovery timelines depend on the severity and chronicity of the condition. Mild tendonitis treated early with rest and physical therapy may resolve within four to six weeks. Chronic tendinopathy that has been present for months typically requires three to six months of dedicated rehabilitation before the tendon regains sufficient strength and tolerance for sport-specific loading. Surgical cases require a longer, phased rehabilitation — often four to six months — before a return to full jumping and landing activity. Dr. Glashow coordinates rehabilitation closely with physical therapists to ensure the tendon is progressively loaded at the right pace.
How can I prevent jumper’s knee from coming back?
The most effective prevention strategies include maintaining a consistent patellar tendon strengthening program — particularly eccentric exercises like single-leg decline squats — progressive increases in training volume and jump frequency rather than sudden spikes, adequate rest between high-intensity training sessions, proper landing mechanics that distribute force across the entire lower extremity rather than concentrating it through the knee, and addressing contributing factors like quadriceps tightness, calf inflexibility, and training surface hardness. Dr. Glashow develops individualized prevention programs based on each patient’s sport, training demands, and injury history.
