Anyone had patellar tendonitis/Jumpers knee?

Anyone had patellar tendonitis/Jumpers knee?

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FreeLitres

Original Poster:

6,039 posts

176 months

Monday 27th July 2015
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I'm suffering with this at the moment and I'm wondering if anyone has had it and recovered.

I'm fairly new to running and I have done the usual thing of going too hard too fast. My physio suggested that I continue running but do lots of foam rolling and stretching. It's not clearing up at all. I've had it for about 4 months now. frown

Is it best to stop running until its better?

MC Bodge

21,552 posts

174 months

Tuesday 28th July 2015
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I have had this over the years. One of my patella tendons is now thicker than the other due to scarring.

Last year I found a YouTube video suggesting using a rolling pin to firmly massage the muscles on the front of the shins. This appeared to help me considerably, although it could have been coincidence. If I feel any hint of it, I now use the roller on my shins.

Orthotic insoles may help too.

There is also recommendation to do eccentric squats (ie lowering) on a downward slope.

Landing on the balls of the feet before touching the heels down whilst running is also a good idea, but build up gently and look after your calves.

FreeLitres

Original Poster:

6,039 posts

176 months

Tuesday 28th July 2015
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Do you still run now MC?

I have ordered a foam wedge for squats.

I hope I haven't done any permanent damage.

MC Bodge

21,552 posts

174 months

Tuesday 28th July 2015
quotequote all
Yes, I run and doing better than I could have imagined a couple of years ago.

Honestly, for me, that eccentric massage therapist chap massaging his shins on YouTube seems to have helped massively.

Ps. My calves are now my weak point!

Matt_N

8,900 posts

201 months

Tuesday 28th July 2015
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I've suffered this in the past and used these exercises to help:

http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/sport-injuries/k...

I'm on a whole new programme of exercises at present recovering from a broken femur but can feel some niggles coming back in my weak knee.

DervVW

2,223 posts

138 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
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Where does this hurt out of intrest?

MC Bodge

21,552 posts

174 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
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Ps. I have also been doing yoga and core and flutes strengthening. I suspect that the combination is helping.

Hoofy

76,253 posts

281 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
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I've learnt the hard way via the medium of shin splints that muscles need to be strong and balanced all round - shins, abductors, quads, calves. Prior to running around a court, I only focused on my quads. Worthwhile investigating the exercises needed to work these areas. Squats and calf raises are the obvious ones. Kidnapping women is optional.

MC Bodge

21,552 posts

174 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
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Ps. I have also been doing yoga and core and flutes strengthening. I suspect that the combination is helping.

helix402

7,832 posts

181 months

Friday 31st July 2015
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I have had this for several years. It is only a minor concern now. I was given physio and steroid injections, no change. I was the offered an op, which may have helped or made it worse. I chose to skip that option. My main "sports" are cycling and weight training, used to do fell running. I have greatly reduced the problem by: no heavy squats, less cycling. My injury was caused to one knee by a crash on my mountain bike.

Mark300zx

1,353 posts

251 months

Friday 31st July 2015
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25 years of Olympic Weight Lifting and yes, best thing I found was a small strap that just sits below the knee cap, amazing!

FreeLitres

Original Poster:

6,039 posts

176 months

Saturday 1st August 2015
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I also have one of those patella knee straps which does help lessen the pain when running. I think it essentially redistributes the strain to a different part of the tendon which is less painful. The problem is that it doesn't actually cure the damage to the tendon and I don't see it as a long term solution.

I've been reading a good book on the matter and I'm going to try the stretches and eccentric decline squats mentioned in there. I'll report back on my findings.

Beating Patellar Tendonitis: The Proven Treatment Formula to Fix Hidden Causes of Jumper's Knee and Stay Pain-free for Life Paperback –
by Martin Koban

FreeLitres

Original Poster:

6,039 posts

176 months

Sunday 18th September 2016
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Just bumping my old thread to see if anyone else has any experiences of PT to share.

A year since last posting and I STILL have this blasted issue. I'm on my third physio now and I have tried lots of stretches, strength exercises etc. but nothing seems to have cleared it.

Against the suggestions from my physio, I think I'm going to have a solid 3 months off running and stick to a very consistent plan of eccentric squats, foam rolling and glute strengthening.

Really fed up of this.

Hoofy

76,253 posts

281 months

Sunday 18th September 2016
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Sometimes it's the only way. Every time you feel a tweak when you're running, you're damaging things further. When I did something to my wrist, it meant I had to back off climbing properly for a good few months. It's a slow healer as very little blood gets to the connective tissue compared to muscles.

blindswelledrat

25,257 posts

231 months

Monday 19th September 2016
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FreeLitres said:
Just bumping my old thread to see if anyone else has any experiences of PT to share.

A year since last posting and I STILL have this blasted issue. I'm on my third physio now and I have tried lots of stretches, strength exercises etc. but nothing seems to have cleared it.

Against the suggestions from my physio, I think I'm going to have a solid 3 months off running and stick to a very consistent plan of eccentric squats, foam rolling and glute strengthening.

Really fed up of this.
Im kind of in the same boat as you. Have you seen a specialist?
My physio diagnosed the same thing, the doctor concurred and I went to see a specialist.
The specialist said he agreed, but then teh scan completely ruled it out showing almost nothing of note.
9 months down the line and my knees have improved slightly but I am so far from being able to exercise like I was that it is depressing.
I feel like a cripple. One of these people that just say "Oh, my knees" all the time.

MiltonBaines

1,267 posts

251 months

Monday 19th September 2016
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I had a similar thing last year, base of one knee hurt when running. It then became painful all the time and kneeling down was agony (new baby so it was difficult to avoid). Saw a physio a few times who was a waste of money (as are 99.999% of physios IMHO having now used a few). Only useful bit of advice was try a patella knee strap - he said 'PUSH' brand was best. £8 and three weeks of wearing all day and I've had no issues since.

UpTheIron

3,992 posts

267 months

Tuesday 29th August 2017
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Thread resurrection time...

Do any of the longer term sufferers who previously contributed have any updates? I'm 3-4 months of suffering in and despite dropping the mileage and lots of stretching and strengthening I'm still struggling.

Did you find a fix FreeLitres?

FreeLitres

Original Poster:

6,039 posts

176 months

Saturday 9th September 2017
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Quick update

It turns out my bout of tendinitis wasn't the main problem.

After 1.5 years of the usual physio work, I begged for an MRI which revealed some damage/tears on my patella cartilage.

I was referred to a consultant who also diagnosed poor tracking of my patella despite all the stretches/exercises that the physio has had me doing. The tracking issue was also causing the damage and pain that I have been experiencing.

I'm soon in to have an operation to realign the patella and to tidy up the cartilage.