Patellar Tendonitis and knee pain Shockwave Therapy.
Patellar tendonitis (often referred to as Jumper's knee) is a condition that involves pain to the tendon that connects the kneecap (patella) to the shin bone (tibia). It is primarily an overuse injury caused by repetitive stress on the knee joint.
Despite the name “tendonitis,” most ongoing cases are not inflammatory.
Instead, it’s usually:
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Tendon overload
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Microscopic tendon damage
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Failed or slow healing
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Reduced tendon strength and load tolerance
That’s why the term Patellar tendinopathy is preferred.
What are the main causes of Patellar Tendinopathy?
The main causes of Patellar tendinopathy all relate to the tendon being loaded more than it can tolerate or recover from.
1. Repetitive high-impact loading (most common)
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Jumping and landing
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Sprinting and sudden stops
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Frequent squatting or lunging
These activities place very high forces through the patellar tendon.
2. Sudden increase in training load
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Rapid jump in training volume or intensity
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Returning too quickly after time off from injury
Tendons adapt slowly; fast load increases overwhelm them.
3. Poor movement or landing mechanics
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Stiff or hard landings
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Excessive knee-forward movement during jumping/squatting
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Poor shock absorption through hips and ankles
Increases stress directly on the patellar tendon.
4. Muscle weakness or imbalance
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Weak quadriceps or hip muscles
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Poor eccentric (lengthening) strength
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Muscle fatigue late in training
Weak muscles shift load to the tendon.
5. Limited mobility
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Tight quadriceps
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Stiff ankles (limited dorsiflexion)
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Poor hip mobility
Reduced mobility forces the knee to take more load.
6. Growth and adolescence (important for teens)
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Rapid growth spurts
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Bones lengthen faster than muscles and tendons adapt
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Temporary increase in tendon stress
7. Training surface and equipment
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Hard playing surfaces
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Worn or unsupportive footwear
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Poor shock absorption
We can speed up your recovery from injury with a combination of Myofascial release, Radial and Focused Shockwave Therapy within the same sessions.
Depending on whether it is Acute or Chronic, 3 - 6 sessions are generally required for most people to gain complete pain relief and make a full recovery from Patellar tendinopathy.
The new way to treat MSK.
How Shockwave Therapy helps with Patellar Tendinopathy.
Shockwave therapy can help by stimulating tendon healing and reducing pain sensitivity, especially when symptoms are chronic and not settling with rest alone. It delivers controlled acoustic (sound) waves through the skin to the painful part of the patellar tendon (usually just below the kneecap).
1. Restarts tendon healing
In chronic tendinopathy, the tendon is stuck in a poor-repair state.
Shockwave therapy helps to stimulate growth factors, activate tendon cells (tenocytes) and promote healthier collagen remodeling. This helps the tendon to gradually regain strength.
2. Improves blood flow
Patellar tendons have limited circulation.
This is where Shockwave therapy hugely encourages new blood vessel formation and improves oxygen and nutrient delivery.
A better blood flow supports a faster and more effective recovery.
3. Reduces pain sensitivity
Shockwaves affect local nerve endings by decrease pain signaling and reducing tendon hypersensitivity. This makes movement and rehab exercises much more tolerable.
4. Breaks down unhealthy tendon tissue
Shockwave cleverly disrupts disorganised collagen fibers and encourages replacement with stronger, better-aligned tissue, which improves tendon quality over time.
5. Reduces surrounding muscle tension
The acoustic waves helps relax overactive quadricep muscles which reduces the constant pulling stress on the tendon
Take your recovery to the next level with scientifically proven Shockwave technology. Shockwave Therapy is clinically proven and well approved by top orthopedics and is now used by well established professional sports bodies, such as elite Premier League Football and Rugby Union clubs.