How to Treat Jumper's Knee

Co-authored by Jessica Gibson | Medically reviewed by Erik Kramer, DO, MPH

Last Updated: February 17, 2022 References

Jumper's knee might feel like an inconvenience, but it's important to stay off of the knee and let it heal. Wrap the knee and take ibuprofen to reduce the swelling. If other conservative treatments such as elevating the knee or applying an ice pack don't improve your knee, get a medical diagnosis and treatment plan. Your doctor may suggest physical therapy, injections to manage the pain, or surgery. Once your knee has recovered, you can ease into exercises that will strengthen the supportive muscles.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Resting and Supporting the Knee

1
Rest the knee for at least 24 to 48 hours. Begin to rest the knee as soon as you notice pain or swelling. You'll need to stay off of the knee and let it rest for at least a day or two before you begin to use it again. Avoid playing high-impact sports or training while your knee is inflamed.^{[1]
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- Most cases of jumper's knee will need several weeks or even months of treatment.
2
Modify your activities until your knee recovers. Since jumper's knee is an overuse injury, it's important to change your activity level while your knee heals. Talk to your doctor about which activities are safe to do, what modifications you need to make, and what activities may risk worsening your injury. Take things easy until you recover.^{[2]
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- For instance, you might need to take a break from sports that you play.
- Don't push your body right now. If something hurts, stop doing that activity.
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3
Take ibuprofen to reduce pain and inflammation. If your knee has swollen or you feel sharp pain, take ibuprofen for the first 24 to 48 hours. Anti-inflammatory medication can reduce swelling and relieve the initial pain.<refhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18056743/</ref>
- Talk with your doctor about how long you should take ibuprofen to manage the pain.
4
Apply an ice pack while you rest the knee. Press an ice pack or gel pack to your knee to reduce swelling and relive pain. Hold the ice pack over your knee for up to 10 minutes at a time. Do this once every hour until the swelling goes down.^{[3]
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- If you have chronic jumper's knee, plan on applying an ice pack after exercising.
5
Elevate the knee. If your knee is painful or you're resting it, raise it up. Try stretching out so you can place pillows or cushions underneath your knee. When you elevate your knee, gravity will help move fluid away from the knee, which can reduce swelling.^{[4]
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6
Wrap the knee with a support or strap. Buy a knee strap and wrap it right under your knee. Wrap it several times so it supports the muscle right beneath your kneecap. The wrap will relieve some of the pressure on your muscle, which can relieve pain and make the muscle heal faster.^{[5]
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- Knee straps are also called infrapatellar straps or Cho-pat straps. You can buy them in most pharmacies or medical supply stores.
7
Use kinesiology tape to support your knee. Cut 6 strips of tape that are about 15 in (38 cm) long. Apply 2 strips of tape on the side of your knee, crossing them to make an "X." Then, create another "X" on the other side of your knee by crossing 2 more strips of tape. Wrap the 5th piece of tape around the top of your "X" to anchor the tape. Then, wrap the 6th piece of tape around the bottom of the "X" to make another anchor.^{[6]
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- There are multiple ways to apply kinesiology tape. It's best to ask your doctor or physical therapist how to position the tape for your knee.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Getting Medical Treatment

1
Diagnose the severity of your jumper's knee. Your doctor will watch you run, jump, kneel, and move your knee to determine the level of your injury. The doctor will grade your jumper's knee from 1 to 5. Grades 1 and 2 are mild injuries, but grade 5 represents severe and constant pain.^{[7]
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- If your doctor suspects you have a bone injury, they might order an X-ray. If they think you have a full tear, your doctor might order an MRI. However, a minor case of jumper's knee may not require any imaging tests.
- The doctor will use the diagnosis to create a treatment plan for your knee. Low level injuries will improve with rest and support, while a more severe diagnosis will need more intensive treatments.
2
Try massage therapy or electrotherapy for mild jumper's knee. Studies show that professional therapies, such as massage or electrotherapy, help knee tendons heal. Ask your doctor if you'd benefit from massage therapy or electrotherapy along with a rehabilitation program.^{[8]
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3
Get Aprotinin injections. If you have severe jumper's knee that isn't feeling better after you've had mild treatments, you might need injections to relieve pressure and inflammation in the knee. The doctor will inject aprotinin directly into the inflamed tendon, which will desensitize the nerves and relieve pain.^{[9]
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4
Consider surgery for severe jumper's knee. If your knee doesn't improve after trying most treatments, the doctor will recommend removing damaged tissue from your knee. The surgeon can repair the tendon and your knee should heal better because blood supply to the knee is improved.^{[10]
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- In most cases, you can return home soon after the surgery is completed.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Exercising to Strengthen the Knee

1
Stretch your quadriceps muscles. If your doctor recommends that you exercise as part of a rehabilitation program, you'll probably need to stretch the quadriceps muscles in front of your thighs. Try one of these stretches:^{[11]
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- Do the hip flexor stretch by putting one knee on the ground and the other foot in front so the knee is bent. Push your hips forward while you keep your back straight.
- Hold your ankle and pull the leg behind you toward your back. You should feel a gentle stretching in your quadriceps muscles. Hold the stretch for 10 seconds and release it.
2
Begin basic strength training. Once your knee no longer feels painful, start simple exercises to contract and relax your quadriceps. Stand or lay down and pull your knee towards your chest. Hold your knee for 5 seconds before you slowly release it. Do 3 sets of 8 repetitions for each knee.^{[12]
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- You can eventually work up to holding the knee for 10 seconds. Do 4 sets of 12 repetitions for each knee once you feel comfortable.
3
Use a leg extension machine for more strength training. If you're not comfortable with putting weight on the knee while you exercise, sit down and use the leg extension machine. Extend a single leg with light resistance and try to do 3 sets with 10 repetitions when you start out.^{[13]
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- Work up to 3 sets of 10 to 12 repetitions once your knee feels stronger.
4
Do eccentric squats on raised heels. Stand against a slanted foam roller or board so your heels are raised up at the back. Slowly squat down and then stand up a little quicker. Put your weight on the good knee instead of the knee that's healing. Do 3 squats 10 times a day when you start out.^{[14]
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- Work your way up to 3 squats 15 times a day.