Jump Back Into Action

When you’re young, you’re always on the move—hiking, playing basketball or volleyball, cleaning your apartment, running a 5K and working long hours. But lately, have you noticed a dull, aching pain in your knees slowing you down? Is just getting out of bed in the morning painful?

There’s a chance you have patellar tendonitis or, as it’s better known, jumper’s knee or runner’s knee. Although patellar tendonitis is most common in athletes whose sports involve jumping (basketball, soccer, volleyball) and running, it’s also common in many young, healthy adults.

Jumper’s knee normally causes an aching pain behind your kneecap, below your kneecap or on the sides of your kneecap. You might notice increased pain when you bend your knee, go down stairs, walk or run downhill or when you stand up after sitting for a long period of time.

The best action you can take against jumper’s knee is no action. Rest and ice your knees until the pain goes away. Working through the pain only leads to further risk of weakening the leg muscles, chronic leg pain or even tearing a tendon.

Further precautions can also help prevent jumper’s knee before it happens:

• Make sure you warm up and stretch your legs, especially your hamstrings and quadriceps, before and after an activity.
• Buy the proper equipment for whatever activity you are doing. Wear shoes that aren’t old or worn out. Shoe inserts can also help if you have flat feet or high arches.
• Try an alternative to running, like biking or swimming.

If your knee pain isn’t going away, it may be time to see your doctor. Don’t wait to treat your knee pain. The earlier it’s treated, the faster you’ll be able to get back into action.

Ready to meet with one of our orthopedic and sports medicine doctors? Call us at 317.565.0505 to request an appointment.

Source: NLM.NIH.gov