Jumper's knee

R V.P De Villiers

doi:10.4102/sajr.v7i3.1392

Abstract

Patellar tendinopathy or 'jumper's knee' is a common cause of anterior knee pain in athletes. This condition is often resistant to therapy and can cause a premature end to a professional sporting career. MRI and high-definition ultrasound are the modalities of choice for evaluating the athlete with anterior knee pain. Ultrasound with a linear, high-resolution 10 or 12 MHz probe is suggested. Comparison is always made with the presumed normal contralateral tendon. MRI, although more expensive, is not operator-dependent. It also demonstrates a more global picture. Fluid-sensitive studies are used in the axial and sagittal planes. The pathology of patellar tendinopathy represents a tendinosis, rather than a tendonitis, due to the absence of inflammatory cells.

Highlights

Athletes in jumping sports such as basketball, high jump, pole vault, volleyball and netball often suffer from anterior knee pain caused by patellar tendinopathy or 'jumper's knee'
The changes may vary from grade 1 tendinosis with generalised hypoechoic tendon swelling to focal hypoechoic areas
Classically,the posterior tendon fibres are predominantly involved.Inflammatory changes in the infrapatellar or Hoffa's fat pad may be noted. This is demonstrated as hypoechoic shadowing compared with the contralateral fat pad (Figs 1 and 2).',2,4.5

Summary

Introduction

Athletes in jumping sports such as basketball, high jump, pole vault, volleyball and netball often suffer from anterior knee pain caused by patellar tendinopathy or 'jumper's knee'. These athletes present to the physiotherapist or sports physician with pain just below the patella that is aggravated by jumping. Pain is aggravated by stressing the extensor mechanism, e.g. with weight training or squatting. On examination the patient is tender at the junction between the patella and the patellar tendon.' MRI and high-definition ultrasound are the modalities of choice for the jumping athlete with anterior knee pain."

Results

Conclusion