Jumpers Knee

B. Operative and non-operative routes

C. Specific rehabilitation protocols recommended

Many injuries occur every day, and a common injury is Jumper’s Knee. Jumper’s Knee is another name for patellar tendonitis. This injury is the inflammation of the patellar tendon. Inflammation can also occur in the quadriceps tendon. The quadriceps tendon is where the quadriceps muscles come together and inserts on the superior aspect of the patella. The patellar tendon connects the patella to the tibia. The exact anatomy will be looked at in more depth later in the paper. Information about the causes and symptoms of Jumper’s Knee, the prevalence this injury has to volleyball players, medical

or start passing drills. All three phases of the rehabilitation program lead up to allowing the athlete to return to play (http://www.drwaltlowe.com/psfpro).

on the stress imposed on it. Gentle exercise can be performed, but that will be focused in more detail later (Anderson, 2000, p.456). An athletic trainer can perform a transverse friction massage for six to eight minutes to the area. This is performed perpendicular to the inferior pole of the patella to the fibers. The friction massage is performed to increase the process of inflammation, so healing may progress to the fibroblastic phase. If a friction massage is performed then any technique used to decrease inflammation should not be used, because the techniques would act against each other. The athlete could use a hot pack before practices to increase the blood flow and permeability to the area (Arnheim & Prentice, 2000, p.554). Phonophoresis, introducing inflammatory medication through the skin by the use of ultrasound, or iontophoresis, introducing inflammatory medication through the skin by the use of an electrical current can be performed in addition to the other techniques to help the healing process. Ultrasound can be used to increase blood flow, collagen elasticity, nerve conduction velocity, cell permeability, help decrease pain, and any edema that may be present. Electrical agents, such as a stim, can decrease pain, muscle atrophy, chronic inflammation, facilitate tissue healing, and help increase muscle strength. There are different forms of ultrasound (pulsed and thermal) and electrical stim (interferential, premodulated, biphasic, and russian,) that can be used but it depends on the type of inflammation that is occurring and what is trying to be achieved. The athletic trainer will be able to determine exactly the best treatment for each individual (Starkey, 1993, p.170, 290) . When these techniques do not seem to help the healing of the patellar tendon then surgery must be performed.

The most common site for patellar tendonitis to occur is at the attachment of the patellar tendon to the inferior pole of the patella. Other sites include the mid-portion of the patellar tendon and at the insertion of the patellar tendon to the tibial tuberocity (Starkey & Ryan, 2002, p.260). Along with the mechanism of injury, the signs and symptoms you obtain can also help determine if an athlete has patellar tendonitis.

Some topics in this essay:
Jumper’s Knee, Walter Lowe, Arnheim Prentice, Roy Irvin, Starkey Ryan, L2 L3, patellar tendon, jumper’s knee, Rehabilitation Treatment, pain free range, volleyball players, range motion, free range, pain free, patellar tendonitis, pole patella, lower extremity, Prevalence Jumper’s, Introduction Mechanism, inferior pole patella, exercises performed, Progression Return, injury volleyball players, range motion exercises, starkey ryan 2002,