About Patellar Tendinitis
Patellar tendinitis causes pain at the front of the knee just below the kneecap, typically in athletes who jump, sprint, or change direction frequently. Progressive loading — not rest — is the evidence-based treatment.
Expected Recovery Window
Reactive tendinopathy: 4–8 weeks. Degenerative or chronic tendinopathy: 3–6 months. Return-to-sport is criteria-based on tendon load tolerance.
Related Symptoms with Patellar Tendinitis
Common Symptoms
Pain at the inferior pole of the patella (directly below the kneecap); pain that warms up with activity but returns after stopping; stiffness and pain in the morning; tenderness with direct pressure on the tendon; worse with jumping, squatting, and stairs.
Common Causes
High jump load volume without adequate recovery; rapid increase in training intensity; quad strength deficit; hard training surfaces; reduced ankle dorsiflexion increasing knee load.
How We Treat Patellar Tendinitis
Isometric loading in the reactive phase for immediate pain relief, then eccentric and heavy slow resistance loading progressions. We address contributing factors — training load, ankle mobility, and quad strength — and build tendon capacity for return to sport.
