Jumper's Knee Case Study

Anatomically, the patella is of a disproportionate oval-shaped sesamoid bone which articulates with the femoral sulcus. Its proximal attachment is the quadriceps tendon which envelopes the structure and distally at the apex, the patellar tendon attaches. Both the tendons are functional as to stabilise the patella bone in the knee joint during movements or even when the joint is static. Also, the patellar retinacula are attached to both the medial and lateral sides of the patella. When the tendon is overused chronically without given adequate time to heal, tendinosis known as Jumper’s Knee can occur in response to the damage.

Conventionally, jumper’s knee can be noted as a patellofemoral pain syndrome. The teno-osseous junctions, where the attachments of the quadriceps tendon and patellar tendon occur, are the impacted areas under this condition. The described patellar pain affects the quadriceps tendon and patellar tendon inserted either into the tibial tuberosity or the patella (Curwin and Stanish, 1984). Thus, by definition, histologically, jumper’s knee

Both extrinsic as well as intrinsic factors are contributors to the condition. Extrinsic causes include the training intensity and frequency, the type of training surfaces and footwear. Studies have shown that as compared to those would use softer surfaces, players of similar sport and roles in training who used cement surfaces are more likely to experience this condition (Ferretti, 1986). Not only that, the players’ percentage number too increased with the number of trainings held per week. In addition, intrinsic factors include the biomechanical modifications in the extensor mechanism of the knee. These cover hypermobility, genu recurvatum or genu valgum and modified Q angle. The imbalance of muscles such as weakness or shortening of muscles must be taken into account as well (Sommer,