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Jumper’s knee is the colloquial name of patellar ligament enthesopathy, i.e. changes resulting from overloading the top of the patella or degenerative changes within it. Jumper’s knee is most often caused by excessive exercise or overstraining the knee. It causes pain and difficulty in making certain movements while walking.
Where does the knee of a jumper come from – the causes of ailments
The kneecap is part of the knee joint. It is a small bone connected to the femur and to the tibia. The kneecap is connected to the tibia by the patella ligament, which transfers the force from the quadriceps muscle to the lower leg. Jumper’s knee these are overload or degenerative changes in the patellar ligament. Within it, micro-injuries occur, it may even break off.
The cause of the appearance of ailments is called jumper’s knee most often it is too active, excessive sports. Especially vulnerable to jumper’s knee there are basketball players, volleyball players, handball players and soccer players. Jumper’s knee it is also an ailment of people who frequently jump and jump. The heavier the jumper is, the greater the strain on the knee and kneecap.
To the formation jumper’s knees they can also lead to disturbances in the position and anatomy of the kneecap, disturbances in the axial position of the lower limb, overstress of the knee joint unrelated to sports (and, for example, heavy weight), and poor sports technique.
Jumper’s knee symptoms
Jumper’s knee may be of varying intensity. First, pain in the kneecap appears only after physical activity. Then the pain also appears during warm-up and after exercise. In the next stage, pain in the knee also appears during sports. In a later phase jumper’s knees the knee is injured or the ligament of the patella is torn. The apparatus that allows you to straighten the knee becomes weak. Over time, the kneecap can break off completely.
Pain with jumper’s knee it is prickly, it gets worse when going down stairs, jumping up and doing squats. There is swelling of the knee joint, the ligament becomes noticeably dilated. To the symptoms jumper’s knees may include knee stiffness, limping and a feeling of instability in the knee joint. Muscle atrophy, calf muscle weakness, and gluteal weakness may occur. The kneecap becomes sensitive to touch.
Methods of treating the knee of a jumper
The body is not able to cope with the pain and inflammation alone in the event jumper’s knees. Pharmacological treatment, physical therapy and, in some cases, surgery are necessary. Rehabilitation jumper’s knees is necessary to avoid further injuries and aggravation of degenerative changes in the knee joint.
Treatment jumper’s knees an orthopedic doctor deals with it. He or she will order an ultrasound to assess how much damage to the ligament is. Treatment jumper’s knees it is not simple or short-lived and requires the patient to refrain from physical activity, especially sports.
As an aid, Visiomed KINECARE VM-GB6 knee compress with ergonomic shape can be used.
In the event that the patella has been partially or completely torn, it is necessary operation. It consists in removing damaged and inflamed soft tissues from the ligament. This facilitates the healing of the ligament. Sometimes a portion of the apex of the patella is also removed during surgery.
After the operation, rehabilitation and physical therapy are used. This helps to restore the knee joint function. Complete recovery and exercise in the event jumper’s knees it can take up to 6 months. During this time, a special knee stabilizer should be worn, which will stabilize it and relieve the knee joint. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are also used, which are taken by mouth or in the form of injections into the knee. Physical therapy applied in the case of jumper’s knees are primarily anti-edema and anti-inflammatory treatments, such as cryotherapy and iontophoresis with an anti-inflammatory drug, and treatments that accelerate healing, such as laser and ultrasound. There are also treatments that stimulate the muscles and improve their strength, such as electrostimulation with electricity.
The orthopedic support for the treatment of the jumper’s knee is the OS1st PS3 compression bandage for the kneecap and the jumper’s knee, which can be purchased on Medonet Market at a promotional price,
Rehabilitation jumper’s knees it also includes specially selected exercises that stretch the knee joint and stimulate the nerves and muscles around it. You can also use taping, i.e. covering the sick knee with special plasters.