Denis Felix / The Image Bank / Getty Images
Patellar Tendonitis, Tendinosis, and Tears
Patellar tendonitis occurs when the patellar tendon becomes inflamed and irritated. This problem is most often seen in athletes who do repetitive jumping—the reason patellar tendonitis is often called “jumper’s knee.” Patellar tendonitis is most often seen in participants of sports such as basketball and volleyball, although it can also be seen in runners and other types of athletes.
Partial patellar tendon tears, a finding sometimes described on an MRI, are usually characteristic of chronic patellar tendinosis. These tears are differentiated from acomplete patellar tendon tear, in which the entire tendon is ruptured and requires surgical repair.
Symptoms
X-ray testsare usually performed to confirm there is no problem with the bones around the knee. Occasionally, a calcium deposit may be seen, particularly in patients with chronic patellar tendinosis. An MRI may be helpful to look for symptoms of inflammation or partial tears within the tendon.
Treatment
When the condition is chronic, treatment of inflammation is less likely to be helpful. The focus of treatment for patellar tendonitis and tendinosis is physical therapy. Eccentric exercises, in particular,may aid in treatment.
Some surgeons are also usingPRP injectionsfor the treatment of patellar tendonitis and tendinosis. These injections may help stimulate a healing reaction in the body, although there haven’t yet been many studies on whether this treatment is effective.
On some occasions, patients have persistent patellar tendonitis symptoms despite the measures mentioned above. In patients with chronic patellar pain who have tried these treatments for an extended duration, surgery may be considered.Surgery is usually considered if the damaged tendon is seen on an MRI. During surgery, this damaged tendon can be repaired.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Reinking MF.Current concepts in the treatment of patellar tendinopathy.Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2016;11(6):854–866.Cleveland Clinic.Patellar tendonitis.Brockmeyer M, Haupert A, Kohn D, Lorbach O.Surgical technique: jumper’s knee-arthroscopic treatment of chronic tendinosis of the patellar tendon.Arthrosc Tech. 2016;5(6):e1419-e1424. doi:10.1016/j.eats.2016.08.010Michener LA, Kulig K.Not all tendons are created equal: implications for differing treatment approaches.J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2015;45(11):829-832. doi:10.2519/jospt.2015.0114Unlu MC, Kivrak A, Kayaalp ME, Birsel O, Akgun I.Peritendinous injection of platelet-rich plasma to treat tendinopathy: A retrospective review.Acta Orthop Traumatol Turc. 2017;51(6):482–487. doi:10.1016/j.aott.2017.10.003
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Reinking MF.Current concepts in the treatment of patellar tendinopathy.Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2016;11(6):854–866.Cleveland Clinic.Patellar tendonitis.Brockmeyer M, Haupert A, Kohn D, Lorbach O.Surgical technique: jumper’s knee-arthroscopic treatment of chronic tendinosis of the patellar tendon.Arthrosc Tech. 2016;5(6):e1419-e1424. doi:10.1016/j.eats.2016.08.010Michener LA, Kulig K.Not all tendons are created equal: implications for differing treatment approaches.J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2015;45(11):829-832. doi:10.2519/jospt.2015.0114Unlu MC, Kivrak A, Kayaalp ME, Birsel O, Akgun I.Peritendinous injection of platelet-rich plasma to treat tendinopathy: A retrospective review.Acta Orthop Traumatol Turc. 2017;51(6):482–487. doi:10.1016/j.aott.2017.10.003
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Reinking MF.Current concepts in the treatment of patellar tendinopathy.Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2016;11(6):854–866.Cleveland Clinic.Patellar tendonitis.Brockmeyer M, Haupert A, Kohn D, Lorbach O.Surgical technique: jumper’s knee-arthroscopic treatment of chronic tendinosis of the patellar tendon.Arthrosc Tech. 2016;5(6):e1419-e1424. doi:10.1016/j.eats.2016.08.010Michener LA, Kulig K.Not all tendons are created equal: implications for differing treatment approaches.J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2015;45(11):829-832. doi:10.2519/jospt.2015.0114Unlu MC, Kivrak A, Kayaalp ME, Birsel O, Akgun I.Peritendinous injection of platelet-rich plasma to treat tendinopathy: A retrospective review.Acta Orthop Traumatol Turc. 2017;51(6):482–487. doi:10.1016/j.aott.2017.10.003
Reinking MF.Current concepts in the treatment of patellar tendinopathy.Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2016;11(6):854–866.
Cleveland Clinic.Patellar tendonitis.
Brockmeyer M, Haupert A, Kohn D, Lorbach O.Surgical technique: jumper’s knee-arthroscopic treatment of chronic tendinosis of the patellar tendon.Arthrosc Tech. 2016;5(6):e1419-e1424. doi:10.1016/j.eats.2016.08.010
Michener LA, Kulig K.Not all tendons are created equal: implications for differing treatment approaches.J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2015;45(11):829-832. doi:10.2519/jospt.2015.0114
Unlu MC, Kivrak A, Kayaalp ME, Birsel O, Akgun I.Peritendinous injection of platelet-rich plasma to treat tendinopathy: A retrospective review.Acta Orthop Traumatol Turc. 2017;51(6):482–487. doi:10.1016/j.aott.2017.10.003
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
