What is Patellar Tendinopathy?

Written By Nick Stamatiou

Understanding your injury – Brisbane Physiotherapy Edition.

Overview of Patellar Tendinopathy:

Patellar tendinopathy is a source of anterior knee pain, characterized by pain just below the knee cap. - Pain is aggravated by loading and increased with the demand on the knee extensor muscles (quadriceps), especially in activities that store and

Description

- Patellar tendinopathy is a source of anterior knee pain, characterized by pain just below the knee cap.

- Pain is aggravated by loading and increased with the demand on the knee extensor muscles (quadriceps), especially in activities that store and release energy in the patellar tendon.

- Patellar tendinopathy is most commonly seen in young athletes aged 15-30 and is more in the male population.

- This condition is particularly seen in people that participate in sports such as basketball, volleyball, athletic jump events, tennis, and football, which require repetitive loading of the patellar tendon

- The prevalence of this condition in elite volleyball and basketball players has been found to be over 40 %

Presentation

Patellar tendinopathy is a source of anterior knee pain, characterized by pain just below the knee cap. - Pain is aggravated by loading and increased with the demand on the knee extensor muscles (quadriceps), especially in activities that store and

- Pain is localized at the inferior pole of kneecap.

- Aggravated with activities that store and release energy in patella tendon (jumping, landing, cutting, pivoting, early to mid-squat

- Tenderness commonly just below the kneecap and occasionally at the top of the shin bone.

- Pain typically at the start of activity, settles after warm-up and painful after activity when they have cooled down.

- Pain after exercise or the following morning

- Giving way occasionally due to quadriceps inhibition

- Generalized quadriceps weakness.

Nick Stamatiou

Nick has a strong interest in sports and musculoskeletal physiotherapy and is motivated to help people reach their desired goals and to achieve their full potential.

His experience includes:

  • Sports and musculoskeletal physiotherapist in a private practice setting

  • Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation inpatient physiotherapist at Brisbane Private Hospital

  • Clinical Reformer and Mat-work Pilates instructor

  • Football gameday physiotherapist

While Nick is skilled in managing all areas of musculoskeletal physiotherapy, he has a particular interest in the rehabilitation of muscle strains, hip, knee and lower back conditions. Nick offers dry needling, massage and joint mobilisation to compliment exercise prescription.

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