A sharp pain just below your kneecap when you run, jump or take the stairs? That is the signature of patellar tendinitis — “jumper’s knee” — one of the most common knee complaints in active people. Treated early and correctly, it resolves well; ignored, it can keep you out of sport for months.
What is patellar tendinitis?
The patellar tendon connects your kneecap to your shin and transmits the force of your quadriceps with every step, squat and jump. When load exceeds what the tendon can adapt to, its fibres develop micro-damage and pain sets in — first after training, then during it, eventually in daily life. Clinicians now call it patellar tendinopathy, because the process is degenerative rather than purely inflammatory.
Common symptoms
Pinpoint pain just below the kneecap, worse with jumping, running, squatting and descending stairs; stiffness after prolonged sitting; tenderness when pressing on the tendon; and, in advanced stages, pain even when walking.
Common causes
Sudden increases in training volume, jump-and-stop sports (basketball, volleyball, football, tennis), weak or stiff quadriceps and glutes, poor landing mechanics, unsuitable footwear and hard training surfaces. The tendon is often the victim of an imbalanced movement chain — not the root problem.
Can it be treated without surgery?
Yes — the gold standard is conservative treatment built around progressive tendon loading. Complete rest does not heal a tendinopathy; the tendon needs correctly dosed load to rebuild. Surgery is reserved for rare cases that fail a full, properly run programme.
How we treat patellar tendinitis at Medicine Park
After assessing your knee and the whole chain — hip, ankle, landing mechanics — we build a progressive loading programme: isometrics to calm pain, then eccentric and plyometric work to return you to sport. We add manual therapy, dry needling for the quadriceps, and smart training modifications so you rarely have to stop completely.
How long does recovery take?
Recent cases usually improve in 4–6 weeks. Chronic tendinopathy needs 3 months or more — tendons adapt slowly but reliably. We tell you your stage and realistic timeline at the first assessment.
When to seek help
If pain below the kneecap has lasted more than two weeks or returns with every session, do not let it become chronic. Your first assessment at Medicine Park is free.
