Patellar Tendinopathy

This week’s topic may provide you with yet another excuse to avoid any running or jumping. But don’t fret, it’s very treatable with physical therapy and won’t keep you from doing the things you love for too long. Due to the amount of force through the knee, the quadricep muscles form a common tendon with a small bone, the patella, located in the middle of the tendon before it attaches on the tibia. Above the patella, the tendon is named the quadriceps tendon, but below the patella, it’s often called the patellar ligament because it located between two bony surfaces, instead of the patellar tendon.

Patellar tendinopathy is the result of changes in the patellar tendon/ligament which results in anterior knee pain. What makes it different from patellofemoral syndrome, is the pain is usually localized to the base of the patella and the pain increases with increased demand on the tendon/quadriceps. Patients usually don’t have pain at rest and the pain goes away once the aggravating activity is stopped.

Patellar tendinopathy is most common in younger (15–30-year-old) individuals, males, and those who participate in sports which require lots of running and jumping such as basketball, volleyball, and football to name a few. The most significant risk factor for developing patellar tendinopathy is training load and aggravating factors include any activity that increases load through the tendon including descending stairs and squatting.

Physical therapy is effective in treatment of patellar tendinopathy by addressing the structural changes in the tendon with deep friction massage or instrument-assisted manual therapy such as ASTYM or Graston. Eccentric exercises have been shown by research to be highly effective and beneficial.

If you are interested in learning more or about treatment options, don’t hesitate to call/text 701-318-4731 or email connectptnd@gmail.com to learn how we can help. Don’t forget to follow on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on the happenings at Connect Physical Therapy.

- Alison Fuhrman, PT, DPT, CMPT, OCS