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What Is Jumper's Knee?

Jumper's knee is an injury of the patellar tendon. The patellar tendon is the cord-like tissue that joins the patella (kneecap) to the tibia (shinbone).

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Jumper's Knee?

Common symptoms of jumper's knee include:

  • pain below the kneecap, especially during sports, climbing stairs, and bending the knee
  • a swollen knee joint
  • knee stiffness

What Causes Jumper's Knee?

Jumper's knee is an overuse injury (when repeated movements injure a part of the body). It happens when frequent jumping, running, and changing direction damages the patellar tendon. It's also called patellar tendonitis.