Patellar Tendinitis

Last updated: February 8, 2026Reviewed date: February 8, 2026Reading time: 5 min read
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Patellar tendinitis is inflammation or irritation of a tendon the thick fibrous cords that attach muscle to the bone of the patella, and injury to the tendon connecting your kneecap (patella) to your shinbone. The patellar tendon works with the muscles at the front of...

For severe symptoms, danger signs, pregnancy, child illness, or sudden worsening, seek urgent medical care.

বাংলা রোগী নোট এখনো যোগ করা হয়নি। পোস্ট এডিটরে “RX Bangla Patient Mode” বক্স থেকে সহজ বাংলা সারাংশ যোগ করুন।

এই তথ্য শিক্ষা ও সচেতনতার জন্য। এটি ডাক্তারি পরীক্ষা, রোগ নির্ণয় বা প্রেসক্রিপশনের বিকল্প নয়।

Article Summary

Patellar tendinitis is inflammation or irritation of a tendon the thick fibrous cords that attach muscle to the bone of the patella, and injury to the tendon connecting your kneecap (patella) to your shinbone. The patellar tendon works with the muscles at the front of your thigh to extend your knee so that you can kick, run and jump. The patellar tendon works with the...

Key Takeaways

  • This article explains Other Names in simple medical language.
  • This article explains Pathophysiology in simple medical language.
  • This article explains Causes in simple medical language.
  • This article explains Symptoms in simple medical language.
Educational health guideWritten for patient understanding and clinical awareness.
Reviewed content workflowUse writer and reviewer profiles for stronger trust.
Emergency safety firstUrgent warning signs are highlighted below.

Seek urgent medical care if you notice

These warning signs are general safety guidance. Local emergency numbers and clinical judgment should always come first.

  • Severe symptoms, breathing difficulty, fainting, confusion, or rapidly worsening illness.
  • New weakness, severe pain, high fever, or symptoms after a serious injury.
  • Any symptom that feels urgent, unusual, or unsafe for the patient.
1

Emergency now

Use emergency care for severe, sudden, rapidly worsening, or life-threatening symptoms.

2

See a doctor

Book a professional medical evaluation if symptoms persist, worsen, recur often, affect daily activities, or occur in a high-risk patient.

3

Learn safely

Use this article to understand possible causes, tests, treatment options, prevention, and questions to ask your clinician.

Patellar tendinitis is infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।" data-rx-term="inflammation" data-rx-definition="Inflammation is the body’s response to injury, infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।">inflammation or irritation of a tendon the thick fibrous cords that attach muscle to the bone of the patella, and injury to the tendon connecting your kneecap (patella) to your shinbone. The patellar tendon works with the muscles at the front of your thigh to extend your knee so that you can kick, run and jump. The patellar tendon works with the muscles at the front of your thigh to extend your knee so that you can kick, run and jump. The cause of tendonitis and tenosynovitis is often not known. They may be caused by strain, overuse, injury, or too much exercise. Tendonitis may also be related to a disease such as insulin is low or not working well. সহজ বাংলা: রক্তে চিনি বেশি থাকার রোগ।" data-rx-term="diabetes" data-rx-definition="Diabetes is a condition where blood sugar stays too high because insulin is low or not working well. সহজ বাংলা: রক্তে চিনি বেশি থাকার রোগ।">diabetes, stiffness, or reduced movement. সহজ বাংলা: জয়েন্টের প্রদাহ।" data-rx-term="arthritis" data-rx-definition="Arthritis means joint inflammation causing pain, swelling, stiffness, or reduced movement. সহজ বাংলা: জয়েন্টের প্রদাহ।">arthritis: Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune joint disease causing inflammation, pain, and swelling. সহজ বাংলা: রোগপ্রতিরোধ ব্যবস্থার ভুল আক্রমণে জয়েন্টের প্রদাহ।" data-rx-term="rheumatoid arthritis" data-rx-definition="Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune joint disease causing inflammation, pain, and swelling. সহজ বাংলা: রোগপ্রতিরোধ ব্যবস্থার ভুল আক্রমণে জয়েন্টের প্রদাহ।">rheumatoid arthritis, or infection. Patellar Tendonitis is usually curable within 6 weeks if treated appropriately with conservative treatment and resting of the affected area.

Other Names

  • Jumpers Knee
  • Patellar Tendinitis
  • Patellar Tendinopathy
  • Patellar Tendinosis
  • Patellar tendon pain

Pathophysiology

  • General
    • Represents a common overuse injury of the knee extensor mechanism
    • Can be seen acutely or chronically
    • Sports that involve rapid changes of direction, jumping, and running such as basketball and volleyball
    • The landing phase contributes more to injury than the take-off phase
  • Occurs due to chronic repetitive tendon overload
    • Microtrauma can lead to individual fibril degeneration due to stress across the tendon
    • May result in weakening of the tissue
    • Tension is greatest with increased knee flexion
  • Other proposed theories of pathogenesis
    • Vascular
    • Mechanical
    • Impingement–related
    • Nervous system
  • Histopathology
    • Initially thought to be inflammatory, now considered a degenerative condition (tendinosis or tendinopathy)
  • Patellar Apophysitis (Sinding-Larsen-Johansson Disease)
  • Tibial Tuberosity Apophysitis (Osgood Schalatters Disease)
  • Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS)
  • Patellar Tendon
    • Extends distally from the inferior pole of the Patella to the Tibial Tubercle
    • Helps assist as part of the Knee Extensor Mechanism with the Quadriceps Muscle and Quadriceps Tendon
  • Area of pathology
    • Tends to occur at the inferior pole of the patella more commonly than tibial tuberosity

Causes

  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Ice skating
  • Intrinsic factors
    • Male are slightly more common than females[7]
    • Weight
    • Body Mass Index
    • Waist-to-hip ratio[8]
    • Leg-length difference
    • Arch height of the foot
    • Decreased quadriceps flexibility
    • Decreased hamstring flexibility
    • Quadriceps strength
    • Vertical jump performance
    • Patella alta[9]
    • Abnormal patellar tracking[10]
  • Extrinsic
    • Single sport athletes in basketball, volleyball or soccer at 4x greater risk[11]
  • Among volleyball players
    • The volume of training[3]
    • Training surface (concrete worse than wood)
    • Greater match exposure[12]

diagnosis: Differential diagnosis is a list of possible conditions that may explain symptoms. সহজ বাংলা: একই লক্ষণের সম্ভাব্য রোগের তালিকা।" data-rx-term="differential diagnosis" data-rx-definition="Differential diagnosis is a list of possible conditions that may explain symptoms. সহজ বাংলা: একই লক্ষণের সম্ভাব্য রোগের তালিকা।">Differential Diagnosis

  • Fractures
    • Distal Femur Fracture
    • Patellar Fracture
    • Tibial Plateau Fracture
  • Dislocations & Subluxations
    • Patellar Dislocation (and subluxation)
    • Knee Dislocation
    • Proximal Tibiofibular Joint Dislocation
  • Muscle and Tendon Injuries
    • Quadriceps Contusion
    • Iliotibial Band Syndrome
    • Quadriceps Tendonitis
    • Patellar Tendonitis
    • Popliteus Tendinopathy
    • Extensor Mechanism Injury
      • Patellar Tendon Rupture
      • Quadriceps Tendon Rupture
      • Patellar Fracture
  • Ligament Pathology
    • ACL Injury
    • PCL Injury
    • MCL Injury
    • LCL Injury
    • Meniscal Pathology
    • Posterolateral Corner Injury
    • Multiligament Injury
  • Arthropathies
    • Knee pain and stiffness. সহজ বাংলা: বয়স/ক্ষয়ের কারণে জয়েন্টের ব্যথা।" data-rx-term="osteoarthritis" data-rx-definition="Osteoarthritis is wear-and-tear joint disease causing pain and stiffness. সহজ বাংলা: বয়স/ক্ষয়ের কারণে জয়েন্টের ব্যথা।">Osteoarthritis
    • Septic stiffness, or reduced movement. সহজ বাংলা: জয়েন্টের প্রদাহ।" data-rx-term="arthritis" data-rx-definition="Arthritis means joint inflammation causing pain, swelling, stiffness, or reduced movement. সহজ বাংলা: জয়েন্টের প্রদাহ।">Arthritis
    • Gout
  • Bursopathies
    • Prepatellar Bursitis
    • Pes Anserine Bursitis
    • MCL Bursitis
    • Infrapatellar Bursitis
  • Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS)/ Anterior Knee Pain)
    • Chondromalacia Patellae
    • Patellofemoral Osteoarthritis
    • Osteochondral Defect Knee
    • Plica Syndrome
    • Infrapatellar Fat Pad Impingement
    • Patellar Instability
  • Neuropathies
    • Saphenous Nerve Entrapment
  • Other
    • Bakers Cyst
    • Patellar Contusion
  • Pediatric Considerations
    • Patellar Apophysitis (Sinding-Larsen-Johansson Disease)
    • Patellar Pole Avulsion Fracture
    • Tibial Tubercle Avulsion Fracture
    • Tibial Tuberosity Apophysitis (Osgood Schalatters Disease)

Symptoms

  • Pain and tenderness around your patellar tendon.
  • Swelling.
  • Pain with jumping, running, or walking.
  • Pain when bending or straightening the leg.
  • Tenderness behind the lower part of the kneecap.

Diagnosis

  • History
    • The onset of pain is typically insidious
    • Patients will complain of knee pain just below the patella
    • Initially, pain is only after activity, then eventually during activity, and potentially all the time
    • Movie Theatre Sign: The patient can endorse pain after prolonged periods of sitting, for example in a movie theatre
  • Physical Exam: Physical Exam Knee
    • Swelling over the tendon may or may not be present
    • Tenderness in the inferior patella pole, along the tendon or at the tibial insertion
    • Pain with the resisted extension of the knee or with maximal stretching of the quadriceps
  • Special Tests
    • Bassets Sign: Tenderness of inferior patellar pole in extension but not inflection

Radiographs

  • Standard Radiographs Knee
    • Radiographs are a common screening tool
    • Typically normal

Ultrasound

  • Ultrasound can be used to evaluate tendon integrity
  • Findings
    • Hypoechoic areas
    • Thickened tendon
    • Neovascularization (chronic)

MRI

  • Indications
    • Chronic cases
    • Surgical planning
  • Findings
    • Tendon thickening
    • Increased signal on T1, T2
    • Sometimes loss of posterior border of fat pad

Blazina Classification System

  • Phase I: pain after activity only
  • Phase II: pain during and after activity
  • Phase III: persistent pain with or without activities, deterioration of performance

Treatment

Nonoperative

  • General
    • Temporary discontinuation of offending sport
    • Relative rest
    • Ice Therapy
    • Avoid complete immobilization to prevent atrophy
  • Oral Medications[13]
    • NSAIDS are likely useful in the short term[14]
    • Acetaminophen
    • Opioids
  • Topical Nitroglycerin
    • No significant difference between topical NO and placebo + eccentric training at 24 weeks, with both groups showing improvement
  • Physical Therapy
    • Avoidance of jumping activities with stretching after physical activity may help in early disease
    • Individuals performing eccentric exercises improved significantly compared with those undergoing a concentric exercise program
    • RCT: Progressive tendon-loading exercises (PTLE) resulted in a significantly better clinical outcome after 24 weeks than eccentric exercise therapy (EET)
  • Consider Patellar Counterforce Strap
    • May decrease patellar tendon strain by altering the angle between patella and patella tendon
    • The overall evidence is weakly favorable
    • There are no high-quality level 1 studies
  • Corticosteroid Injection
    • Not generally recommended due to the risk of rupture
    • Under ultrasound guidance, some benefit over placebo at 4 weeks for pressure, and walking pain
    • At 6 months, was inferior to eccentric training and heavy slow resistance training
  • Aprotinin Injection
    • When compared to corticosteroids and placebo, aprotinin had 72% good/excellent results compared with 59% in the CSI group and 28% in the placebo group
    • High risk of side effects including anaphylaxis, bovine spongiform encephalopathy
  • Sclerosing Injection
    • Polidocanol injection showed significant improvement in VISCA score at 4 months
    • Polidocanol was inferior to arthroscopy for pain, satisfaction, and return to sport
  • Platelet Rich Plasma
  • Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT)
    • No difference between ESWT and surgical tenotomy at 22-26 months
    • Compared to a control arm of NSAIDS, physical therapy, and patellar strap, ESWT was superior at 2- and 3-years of follow-up
  • Consider Needle Tenotomy
  • Consider Orthobiologics

Operative

  • Indications
    • Refractory cases
  • Surgery
    • Open debridement
    • Arthroscopic debridement

Doctor visit helper

Prepare before seeing a doctor

A simple rural-patient checklist to help you explain symptoms clearly, ask better questions, and avoid unsafe self-treatment.

Safety note: This is not a prescription or diagnosis. For severe symptoms, pregnancy danger signs, children with serious illness, chest pain, breathing difficulty, stroke-like weakness, or major injury, seek urgent care.

Which doctor may help?

Start with a registered doctor or the nearest qualified health center.

What to tell the doctor

  • Write when the problem started and how it changed.
  • Bring old prescriptions, investigation reports, and current medicines.
  • Write allergies, pregnancy status, diabetes, kidney/liver disease, and major past illnesses.
  • Bring one family member if the patient is weak, elderly, confused, or a child.

Questions to ask

  • What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
  • Which danger signs mean I should go to hospital quickly?
  • Which tests are necessary now, and which can wait?
  • How should I take medicines safely and what side effects should I watch for?
  • When should I come for follow-up?

Tests to discuss

  • Vital signs: temperature, pulse, blood pressure, oxygen saturation
  • Basic physical examination by a clinician
  • CBC, urine test, blood sugar, or imaging only when clinically needed

Avoid these mistakes

  • Do not use antibiotics, steroid tablets/injections, or strong painkillers without proper medical advice.
  • Do not hide pregnancy, kidney disease, ulcer, allergy, or blood thinner use.
  • Do not delay emergency care when danger signs are present.

Medicine safety and first-aid guide

This section is for patient education only. It does not replace a doctor, pharmacist, or emergency care.

Safe first steps

  • Avoid heavy lifting, sudden bending, and prolonged bed rest.
  • Use comfortable posture and gentle movement as tolerated.
  • Discuss physiotherapy, X-ray, or MRI only when clinically needed.

OTC medicine safety

  • For mild back pain, pain-relief medicine may be discussed with a doctor or pharmacist.
  • Avoid repeated painkiller use if you have kidney disease, stomach ulcer, uncontrolled blood pressure, or are taking blood thinners.

Avoid these mistakes

  • Do not start antibiotics without a proper medical decision.
  • Do not use steroid tablets or injections casually for quick relief.
  • Do not delay emergency care because of home remedies.

Get urgent help if

  • Back pain with leg weakness, numbness around private area, loss of urine/stool control, fever, cancer history, or major injury needs urgent care.
Medicine names, dose, and timing must be decided by a qualified clinician or pharmacist after checking age, pregnancy, allergy, other diseases, and current medicines.

For rural patients and family caregivers

Patient health record and symptom diary

Write your symptoms, medicines already taken, test results, and questions before visiting a doctor. This note stays on your device unless you print or copy it.

Doctor to discuss: Doctor / qualified healthcare provider
Tests to discuss with doctor
  • Basic vital signs: temperature, pulse, blood pressure, oxygen level if needed
  • Relevant blood, urine, imaging, or specialist tests only after clinical assessment
Questions to ask
  • What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
  • Which warning signs mean I should go to emergency care?
  • Which tests are really needed now?
  • Which medicines are safe for my age, pregnancy status, allergy, kidney/liver/stomach condition, and current medicines?

Emergency warning signs such as chest pain, severe breathing difficulty, sudden weakness, confusion, severe dehydration, major injury, or loss of bladder/bowel control need urgent medical care. Do not wait for online information.

Safe pathway to proper treatment

Care roadmap for: Patellar Tendinitis

Use this simple roadmap to understand the next safe steps. It is educational and does not replace examination by a doctor.

Go to emergency care if you notice:
  • Severe or rapidly worsening symptoms
  • Breathing difficulty, chest pain, fainting, confusion, severe weakness, major injury, or severe dehydration
Doctor / service to discuss: Qualified healthcare provider; specialist depends on symptoms and examination.
  1. Step 1

    Check danger signs first

    If danger signs are present, seek emergency care and do not wait for online information.

  2. Step 2

    Record the symptom story

    Write when symptoms started, severity, medicines already taken, allergies, pregnancy status, and test results.

  3. Step 3

    Visit a qualified clinician

    A doctor, nurse, or qualified healthcare provider can examine you and decide which tests or treatment are needed.

  4. Step 4

    Do only useful tests

    Do tests after clinical assessment. Avoid unnecessary tests, random antibiotics, or repeated medicines without diagnosis.

  5. Step 5

    Follow up and return early if worse

    If symptoms worsen, new warning signs appear, or treatment is not helping, return for review quickly.

Rural patient practical tips
  • Take a written symptom diary and all previous prescriptions/test reports.
  • Do not hide medicines already taken, even herbal or over-the-counter medicines.
  • Ask which warning signs mean urgent referral to hospital.

This roadmap is for education. A real diagnosis and treatment plan requires history, examination, and clinical judgment.

RX Patient Help

Ask a health question safely

Write your symptom story. A health professional or site editor can review it before any answer is prepared. This box is not for emergency care.

Emergency first: Severe chest pain, breathing trouble, unconsciousness, stroke signs, severe injury, heavy bleeding, or rapidly worsening symptoms need urgent local medical care now.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this article a replacement for a doctor?

No. It is educational content only. Patients should consult a qualified clinician for diagnosis and treatment.

When should I seek urgent care?

Seek urgent care for severe symptoms, rapidly worsening condition, breathing difficulty, severe pain, neurological changes, or any emergency warning sign.

References

Add references, clinical guidelines, textbooks, journal articles, or trusted medical sources here. You can edit this area from the RX Article Professional Blocks panel.

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