Final answer:
When rehabilitating a patient diagnosed with "jumper's knee," the quadriceps muscle group should be the focus of strengthening. This is essential for knee stability and mitigating pain and future injuries associated with the condition.
Step-by-step explanation:
When rehabilitating a patient diagnosed with "jumper's knee," the muscle group that should eventually be stronger is the quadriceps. This condition, also known as patellar tendinopathy, is characterized by stress to the patellar tendon, which connects the kneecap (patella) to the shinbone. The quadriceps group is essential for knee stability and function, particularly the vastus medialis, which is part of the quadriceps group and helps in the extension of the knee joint. Strengthening the quadriceps can help relieve the pain associated with jumper's knee and prevent future injuries.
The correct answer to the question is A) Quadriceps, as they are the agonist muscles for extending the knee. The hamstrings serve as the antagonistic muscles to the quadriceps, responsible for flexing the knee joint. The other muscle groups mentioned, such as the calves and hip abductors, play roles in other movements but are not the primary focus when rehabilitating jumper's knee.