Runner's knee or jumper's knee: is it patellofemoral pain or patellar tendinopathy?

Two causes of front-of-knee pain

Patellofemoral pain, often called runner's knee, comes from irritation where the kneecap glides on the thigh bone. It is common in runners, teenagers and young women, and often relates to load, hip and thigh strength.

Patellar tendinopathy, or jumper's knee, is overload of the tendon that connects the kneecap to the shin bone. It is common in basketball, volleyball, football and anyone doing a lot of jumping.

The two conditions side by side

• Where it hurts: patellofemoral pain around or behind the kneecap, hard to point to; tendinopathy at one tender spot at the bottom of the kneecap
• Worse with: patellofemoral pain on stairs, squats, kneeling and long sitting; tendinopathy with jumping, landing and sprinting
• During activity: patellofemoral pain often builds as you go; tendinopathy often hurts at the start, eases when warm, then aches later
• Typical person: patellofemoral pain in runners, teenagers and women; tendinopathy in jumping-sport athletes
• Main treatment: patellofemoral pain hip and thigh strengthening with load changes; tendinopathy progressive tendon loading such as slow heavy and isometric exercises
• Scans: often not needed for patellofemoral pain; ultrasound or MRI sometimes helps confirm tendinopathy

When it could be something else

Pain below the kneecap in a growing child may be Osgood-Schlatter disease. Clear swelling, locking or the knee giving way suggest a problem inside the joint, such as cartilage damage or kneecap instability. These need a different plan.

When to see a knee surgeon in Doha

Book an assessment if front-of-knee pain has lasted more than six to eight weeks despite reducing load, if it stops you playing or praying comfortably, or if the knee swells. At Aman Hospital, Dr. Gelber examines exactly where the pain comes from and sets out a rehabilitation plan; surgery is rarely needed for either condition.