What Is Jumper’s Knee?

Patellar tendinitis is an injury that affects the tendon connecting your kneecap (patella) to your shinbone. The patellar tendon plays a major role in the way you utilize your leg muscles. It helps you extend your knee so that you can kick a ball, run uphill, and jump.

Patellar tendinitis is common in athletes whose sports involve frequent jumping — sports such as basketball and volleyball. For this reason, patellar tendinitis is often times referred to as jumper’s knee. However, even those who don’t participate in sports that require a lot of jumping can experience patellar tendinitis.

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