Patellar Tendinopathy (Jumpers Knee) in Mona Vale
Patellar tendinopathy is a common cause of pain at the front of the knee, particularly in people who run, jump, play sport or regularly perform lower-body strength training. At Helix Recovery, we assess the factors contributing to your symptoms and develop a progressive treatment and rehabilitation plan to rebuild tendon capacity.
What is Patellar Tendinopathy ?
The patellar tendon connects the kneecap to the shin bone and plays an important role in transferring force from the quadriceps during running, jumping, squatting and other lower-body activities.
Patellar tendinopathy develops when the tendon becomes painful and less tolerant of the loads being placed through it. It is particularly common in sports involving repeated jumping and changes of direction, which is why it is often referred to as jumper's knee.
Common Symptoms
Pain at the front of the knee
Pain just below the kneecap
Localised tenderness over the patellar tendon
Pain with jumping or landing
Pain with squatting or lunging
Pain during or after running
Stiffness or discomfort after periods of rest
Reduced tolerance for sport or lower-body training
How We Assess Patellar Tendinopathy
Several conditions can cause pain at the front of the knee, so assessment is important to determine whether the patellar tendon is likely to be the primary source of your symptoms.
Assessment may include palpation of the tendon, squatting, jumping and other movements that load the knee, as well as assessment of lower-limb strength and your current training or activity loads.
The aim is to identify the likely source of your pain, understand how much load the tendon currently tolerates and identify factors that can be addressed through treatment and progressive rehabilitation.
How We Treat Patellar Tendinopathy
Treatment depends on how long symptoms have been present, their severity and the activities you want to return to.
Treatment may include:
Osteopathic manual therapy
Shockwave therapy
Progressive exercise rehabilitation
Quadriceps and lower-limb strengthening
Activity and load modification
Gradual return to running, jumping, gym or sport
Shockwave Therapy for Patellar Tendinopathy
Shockwave therapy may be recommended for persistent patellar tendinopathy, particularly when symptoms have been present for several months or progress has plateaued despite appropriate rehabilitation.
Current evidence suggests shockwave therapy may help reduce pain and improve function when combined with a structured loading program. It is not a standalone treatment but can be a useful addition to a comprehensive rehabilitation plan.
Common Questions
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Rest may temporarily reduce pain, but rest alone does not rebuild the tendon’s ability to tolerate load. Progressive strengthening and gradual reintroduction of aggravating activities are usually important parts of rehabilitation.
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Usually, yes. Exercise is one of the main components of patellar tendinopathy rehabilitation. The amount and intensity of loading should be adjusted to your current symptoms and progressively increased as your capacity improves.
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Shockwave therapy may be used as an adjunct for persistent patellar tendinopathy, particularly when symptoms have not improved adequately with initial management. It is generally combined with progressive exercise rehabilitation rather than used as a standalone treatment.
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Recovery varies depending on how long symptoms have been present, their severity and the demands you want to return to. Tendon rehabilitation often takes several weeks to months, with loading progressively increased as symptoms and capacity improve.
Is Patellar Tendon Pain Stopping You From Training?
If pain at the front of your knee is limiting your running, jumping, gym training or sport, we can assess what's contributing and develop a progressive treatment and rehabilitation plan.