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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    What is the treatment for jumper's knee?

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  • 1

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    Mark is an APA Sports Physiotherapist with over 25 years experience with a special interest and expertise in performance enhancement and injury prevention. View Profile

    The treatment of “Jumper's knee”, or patellar tendinopathy, depends on the stage of the injury. Different treatment strategies are required depending on whether the injury is recent, or if it has been present for a while and there is now chronic damage or degeneration of the tendon fibres. Conservative treatment usually involves guided activity modification to reduce activities that have led to the development of the condition. As well, it's necessary to correct any underlying causes such as poor biomechanical factors or muscle weakness especially at the foot and lumbo-pelvic areas, as well as at the knee. Correcting sporting technique might also be necessary to reduce excessive forces being transmitted to the patella tendon.

    Treatment of tendinopathy will usually involve a supervised exercise program which will often incorporate eccentric exercises, as this type of exercise has been found to stimulate healing in the tendon tissue itself as well as strengthen the supporting muscles around the affected joint. As well as seeing a sports physiotherapist, it's also valuable to consult a sports physician about pharmacological and other medical options that might also help to improve the healing process.

  • I am the Clinic Director of the Sydney Spine and Sports Clinic.At our clinic, we see an equal mix of city office workers and elite … View Profile

    On top of the above advice, the Chiropractic approach to “Jumpers knee” will be to try and identify the source of the overload (assuming it is from an overload to the tendon or knee), and try and correct the underlying issue. 

    We would look to other sources for the imbalances, like the pelvis, hips, and even the ankles and feet. 
    Once the entire lower limb is functioning optimally, then the exercises and actual treatment to the tendon are more meaningful, and patients tend to respond quite favourably to that approach. 

    Good luck. 

  • Consultant PhysiotherapistJohn Miller is a clinical physiotherapist with over 25 years experience in sports injury and musculoskeletal management.John graduated as a physiotherapist from the University … View Profile

    Jumpers knee is knowns as patellar tendinopathy. You'll find a thorough jumper's knee treatment article that I wrote here: http://physioworks.com.au/injuries-conditions-1/patella-tendonitis-tendinopathy

  • I am a Senior Physiotherapist working in inner Melbourne and am passionate about ensuring that all my patients are safely able to return to the … View Profile

    A very good question and one which arises very frequenly in sporting populations. So far the information that you have been provided with above outlining a reduction in load, is imperitive for load management.

    However I have received terrific results for patients with 'jumpers knee' that have been present for greater than 3 months through the administration of Extracorporeal shockwave therapy. This a non-invasive treatment which utilises high pressured acoustic shockwave waves administered through a handle. These shocks travel through the skin and work to stimulate pain relief and tissue repair. Only four sessions are required and there is alot of evidence which supports its application.

    If you would like to know more about this treatment please click on the following link http://www.platinumphysio.com.au/feature/shockwave-therapy/ or alternatively call 03 8554 0111 to make an appointment.

     

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