The essence of the jumper's knee is the degeneration of the fibers of the patellar ligament that connects the kneecap to the tibia. The patella ligament tightens along with the quadriceps when the knee is extended and when landing on a bent leg. As a result of excessive overload accompanying jumping or running, microtrauma in his patellar ligaments and the release of pain ailments occur. Healing processes do not keep up with the formation of further microdamages, as a result of which the structure of the patellar ligament is gradually degenerating.

Jumper's knee is showing pain as well as possible swelling and palpation at the front of the knee under the kneecap. The ailments worsen during activities with a large component of running or jumping.

The main cause of the jumper's knee is excessive overloading of the joint and neglecting periods of recovery and rest. The risk of the disease is increased in people with weakened quadriceps muscle, imbalance of tension in the thigh muscles, disturbance of the knee axis (valgus, varus) or abnormal anatomical structure of the patellar femoral joint.

Minor injuries are subject to conservative treatment aimed at facilitating the healing process and then increasing the strength of the patellar ligament to loads. Rehabilitation includes transverse massage of the patellar ligament, shock wave therapy, and exercises to stretch and strengthen the quadriceps. Particular emphasis should be placed on exercises that improve the eccentric work of the quadriceps - that is, those that consist in inhibiting the knee deflection by the muscle (e.g. when going down into a squat or deepening a lunge).

When the patellar ligament damage is extensive, repair procedures are performed or ligament reconstruction procedures are performed.