Patellar Tendonitis is defined as

• A. A shin splint condition
• B. An inflammation of the ankle joint
• C. Inflammation of the patellar tendon; jumpers knee. Common in basketball players
• D. A muscle strain in the thigh

Answer: (C)

Patellar tendonitis is an inflammatory condition of the patellar tendon, the band that runs from the kneecap to the shinbone. This tendon carries the force from the quadriceps to straighten the knee, and repetitive jumping or landing—common in basketball—can cause small tears and inflammation in the tendon, which is why it’s often called jumper’s knee. This description matches the idea of inflammation of the patellar tendon and notes its typical occurence in basketball players. It’s not a shin splint (that’s pain along the shin from tibial stress injuries), not inflammation of the ankle joint, and not a thigh muscle strain (which would involve muscle tissue rather than the tendon).