Patella Tendinopathy

Patella Tendinopathy, Jumper’s Knee, is often described as an overuse injury affecting the knee joint’s patellar tendon. The patellar tendon is a thick band of tissue that connects the knee-cap (patellar) to the shin bone (tibia). Jumping activities place high strains on the tendon and the condition is common in basketball players, tennis players, volleyball players, track and field athletes, as well as football players.

Rachel Miller is a highly experienced podiatrist who treats many patients with patella tendinopathy. Please see below if you want more detailed explanation patella tendinopathy, its symptoms, causes and treatment.

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Patella Tendinopathy

Your patella tendon transmits the force from your quadriceps muscle to the tibia and uses it to straighten your knee, hold your knee in a position against a load or gradually control leg bending when a load is trying to bend it quicker.

Symptoms of patella tendinopathy

Symptoms of patella tendinopathy include:

  • A gradual onset of pain, possible swelling, just below the knee-cap.
  • Pain can be worse with prolonged activity and can become constant.
  • Pain getting up from a squat or from kneeling.
  • Pain descending or ascending stairs.
  • Often one knee is affected but it can be both knees.
  • Stiffness worse in the morning on getting up.

Causes of patella tendinopathy

The cause of pain is not completely understood but if the patella tendon is repeatedly stressed this can lead to microscopic damage and when the tendon tries to heal itself it can become thickened and painful. This can cause a gradual onset of pain below the kneecap often worse activity.

Factors that may contribute to the development of patella tendinopathy include:

  • Overuse – especially participants in sports involving high impact activities like running or jumping.
  • Poor training – not stretching before activity can help cause injury as well as incorrect techniques.
  • Prior injury – not allowing relative rest to aid healing.
  • Misaligned feet, ankles and legs – may cause excessive motion across the knee, overloading the patella tendon.
  • Muscle tightness or weakness – tight thigh and leg muscles may reduce the flexibility at the knee joint and increase the strain on the tendon.
  • Unsupportive or unstable footwear – with poor shock absorption and inadequate stability.
  • Poor pelvic stability or core strength –  hip and other muscle strengthening may help improve biomechanics and diminish patella tendinopathy.
  • Uneven leg muscle strength – may strain the tendon and strength training may help reduce muscle imbalance.
  • Patella alta – a higher than normal kneecap position may increase the strain and risk of injury to the patellar tendon.

Risk factors that may affect the health of your tendon include:

  • age; teens – 30
  • hereditary factors
  • general health and lifestyle factors
  • weight; taller and heavier people can be more susceptible
  • the surface a sportsperson is playing on
  • certain medical conditions

Treatment of patella tendinopathy

Immediate treatment can include:

  • P.R.I.C.E – Protect; Rest; Ice; Compression; Elevation

Other treatments include:

  • stretching exercises
  • medication
  • massage
  • strengthening exercises
  • orthotic insoles
  • deload – modifying activities, not repeating certain exercises, ‘relative rest’
  • reload – after a period of ‘relative rest’ start exercising again

A biomechanical assessment from an experienced podiatrist can help to correctly identify patella tendinopathy, any underlying causes and rule out other patella-femoral issues to be able to give you an appropriate treatment plan. Non invasive conservative treatment may help control symptoms of patella tendinopathy.

 Call the Clinic for an appointment

Rachel Miller is a highly experienced podiatrist specialising in biomechanics who sees many patients for patella tendinopathy.  Her clinic, Highgate Podiatry, is in Highgate Village, 14 Pond Square, N6 6BA, London.  Clinics are held every Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday. Please contact the clinic for an appointment on 020 8348 5553. For the clinic’s address, map and directions see the Contact page and for information about orthotic insoles and biomechanics see the Biomechanics page.

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