Jumpers Knee Part 1
Basketball players deal with many injuries, but a common injury basketball players deal with especially during middle school and high school years is Patella tendonitis or Jumpers knee. This can be caused by overuse, muscular imbalances, or during growth spurts. When seeing these athletes in the clinic we tend to focus on reducing the strain on the tendon along with decreasing pain so that we can start focusing on strengthening to prevent this injury from coming becoming chronic.
In this video a technique known as cross friction massage is being performed. Cross friction massage is when you massage a tendon perpendicular to the fibers, this is typically used to stimulate healing of the tendon. When the tendon has been irritated chronically it can get stuck in a healing cycle, by performing cross friction massage to the affected area we are irritating the tendon to restart the healing cycle. We typically recommend patients use an ice pack or do an ice cup massage when they get home after having this done to aide in the recovery.
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