If you participate in a sport that requires a lot of jumping you may have acquired "Jumper's Knee". Your patellar tendon runs along the top of your knee and connects the kneecap with your tibia (shin bone). As you can imagine, inflammation to the ligament, and over stretching it can cause discomfort.

Jumper's knee happens when someone puts too much strain on the patellar ligament. Athletes such as runners, basketball players, volleyball players and soccer players will often times be those who suffer from patellar tendonitis; although it can strike anyone if enough strain is put on the ligament. If you suspect you may have patellar tendonitis, you can usually feel pain when you press on the tendon that directly covers the knee. You may also experience swelling and stiffness. Sufferers of this form of tendonitis will usually feel pain when bending at the knee. This usually occurs when the patient kneels down or jumps.

Treatment for patellar tendonitis will vary, depending on how bad your symptoms are. In most cases, your doctor will take an X-ray of the knee, just to make sure there isn't any damage to the joint or bones of the knee. In some cases you may have to undergo an MRI. An MRI helps doctors assess whether the tendon, or determine whether it is aggravated. Once the doctor can make an accurate assessment, they will recommend a suitable treatment plan.

Applying ice to the tendon will help in most cases. Ice helps to control and minimize the swelling of the tendon. This will reduce your knee pain, and allow the tendon to heal more rapidly. Anti-inflammatory Motrin and Ibuprofen are prime examples of anti-inflammatory drugs. These drugs will help decrease swelling and control the pain. (Before you take any drugs, you should always speak with your physician first).)

Rest is one of the best cures for tendonitis. Stay away from any activity that causes pain or that can irritate the tendon further. Help your body heal itself by giving yourself enough rest.

A knee brace can help provide support to the knee. Many tendonitis sufferers use them not only when they have a problem, but also to prevent the problem from occurring in the first place. A well designed knee brace can be an invaluable tool to the patellar tendonitis sufferer.

Jumper's knee can often be painful, without a doubt. Avoiding having to suffer from it is a key element, especially if you rely on your knee for sporting activities. Make sure you stretch before you have to put your knee to use, and wear a knee brace when possible. This will help cut down on the chances that you will suffer from Jumper's knee in the future.