Patellar Tendinopathy

9 May

Written By Nick Stamatiou

What is Patellar Tendinopathy?

Patellar Tendinopathy Overview

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

Patellar Tendinopathy 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%.

Symptoms of Patellar Tendinopathy

Patellar Tendinopathy Presentation

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.

Managing Patellar Tendinopathy

Patellar Tendinopathy Treatment

It is essential that people recognize that tendinopathy that has been present for months may require a considerable period of treatment associated with rehabilitation before symptoms disappear.
Prognosis: A person presenting with persistent painful patellar tendinopathy for the first time may require 3–6 months to recover. A patient with a longstanding history may require 6–12 months to return, pain-free, to competition without recurrence.
Patellar Tendinopathy Treatment methods:
- Strengthening exercises
- Load reduction
- Correcting biomechanical errors
- Soft tissue therapy

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.