The joints in your body can get locked up and sore; many times, people experience this joint pain in the body part they use most. The knee joint is the largest joint in your body. It connects your thigh bone to your shin bone and also includes the kneecap.
The tendons in your knee joint connect to the muscles in your leg. The bones in your knees are joined together by ligaments that help provide stability as you walk and move. Every day we rely on our legs to carry us throughout our day and get where we need to go.
Experiencing your everyday activities with knee pain or jumpers knee can be challenging, and no one should have to live through that pain. At Dines Orthopedic, We understand the knee pain you’re undergoing; you’re guaranteed a trusted orthopedic service right by your side with the best therapy sessions and tips from our knee doctor in Uniondale, NY.
What is Jumper’s Knee?
So wat is the term they call Jumper’s Knee? For medical terms, Jumper’s knee is known as Patellar tendinitis. Most common in athletes, a jumper’s knee is an injury to the tendon connecting your kneecap (patella) to your shinbone.
The patellar tendon works with the muscles at the front of your thigh to extend your knee so that you can kick, run and jump. Many athletes undergo physical therapy as a first step to treating this type of joint pain. 
Our knee doctor in Uniondale, New York, understands the different types of knee pain that can occur, specializing in treating knee conditions such as ACL injuries, knee arthroscopy, and meniscus tears; we are here to help at Dines Orthopedic.
Causes & Symptoms
Whether you’re an athlete or not, a jumper’s knee is a common overuse injury caused by repeated stress on your patellar tendon. The stress results in tiny tears in the tendon, which your body attempts to repair, but as the tears in the tendon multiply, they cause pain from inflammation and weakening of the tendon.
When untreated, this tendon damage persists for more than a few weeks, causing tendinopathy. When symptoms first occur, you will experience pain or swelling in your knee as you begin a physical activity or just after an intense workout; ignoring the signs and symptoms will only continue to worsen your pain, interfering with your day-by-day activities.
When going through the first symptoms of a jumper’s knee, it is important to contact your orthopedic doctor, especially if your pain worsens. Our knee doctor in Uniondale, New York, provides standard arthroscopic procedures for the knee. The use of physical therapy after surgery can relieve stress off the tendons and tears in your knee from a combination of factors that contribute to the cause of pain.
Risk factors
ignoring your body’s warning signs can contribute to more risk factors and complications. Without reducing your risk, complications can worsen when you try to work with or through the pain. Some risk factors include:
- Physical activity. Sudden increases in how hard or how often you engage in the activity add stress to the tendon, like running or jumping.
- Tight leg muscles. Quadriceps and hamstrings can increase strain on your patellar tendon.
- Muscular imbalance. Uneven pulls and tears could cause tendinitis.
- Chronic illness. Some illnesses disrupt blood flow to the knee, which weakens the tendon.
Prevention
Jumper’s knee can worsen if you don’t tend to the problem, and you may progress to the more severe patellar tendinopathy. To avoid injuries like a jumper’s knee, you may want to consider these tips for prevention.
- Don’t avoid pain– Avoid activities that add stress to your patellar tendon. As soon as you notice exercise-related knee pain, ice the area and rest, and call your doctor if the pain worsens.
- Stretch and exercise muscles– Eccentric exercises, which involve lowering your leg very slowly after extending your knee, are particularly helpful. Strong thigh muscles are able to handle the stresses that can cause patellar tendinitis.
- Improve your form- For most athletes and even people lifting heavy weights, be sure you’re using your body correctly with professional instructions when starting a new sport or using exercise equipment. The form is the base of using your body parts correctly.
Get in touch with Our Knee Doctor in Uniondale
At Dines Orthopedic, we understand the various injuries that occur in your knees. Our team and trusted knee doctor in Uniondale, NY, have performed thousands of procedures, so you are in good hands. Contact us today for an appointment.