Knee & Leg

Patellar Tendinopathy

Also called: Jumper's knee

Overload of the tendon connecting kneecap to shin — the jumper's signature (volleyball, basketball) and a load-management condition through and through. Pain sits at the bottom point of the kneecap and follows a telltale pattern: warms up during activity, punishes you after.

Common signs

Pinpoint pain at the lower pole of the kneecap
Pain with jumping, landing, deceleration, squatting
Stiff and sore the morning after loading days
Often 'warms up' during play, worse later

Seek help now if

Sudden pop with inability to extend the knee (tendon rupture — emergency)
Swelling with fever
Adolescent with pain at the shin bump instead (see Osgood-Schlatter)

If any of these is sudden or severe, call 911 or go to an emergency room. For the others, get examined before you start self-care.

What to do first

Manage load, don't rest completely — tendons weaken with rest and strengthen with the right dose
Start isometric holds (wall sits, Spanish squats): they reduce pain and begin adaptation
Audit the training week: jump volume, surfaces, and spikes in load usually explain it

The longer road

The proven path: isometrics → heavy slow resistance (slow squats/leg press) → energy-storage work (jumping progression) over ~3 months
In-season athletes manage with isometrics and load control; true rebuild happens off-season
This condition rewards patience and punishes shortcuts — repeatedly

Natural healing options we use

Progressive tendon-loading program (the treatment)
Manual therapy for quads and hips
Chiropractic care for chain mechanics
Collagen + vitamin C timed before loading sessions; adequate protein

About imaging

Clinical; ultrasound/MRI for stubborn cases or rupture concern.

Daily self-care

Daily isometric holds during painful phases
Never spike jump volume >20–30% week to week
Track morning pain score — it's your tendon's report card

Book a visit Call 469-620-6245 All conditions

How we can help

Keep working on it at home

Once you have been examined and cleared to load it, these free home programs cover this part of the body.

Knees Bulletproofing Thighs Bulletproofing The Body Audit: test your own range

More in Knee & Leg

Knee Osteoarthritis Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome ACL Sprain / Tear MCL Sprain PCL Sprain Meniscus Tear IT Band Syndrome Baker's Cyst Osgood-Schlatter Disease

Please read: this page is education, not a diagnosis. A proper examination is how a condition gets confirmed and a plan gets built. See our medical disclaimer.