Patellar Tendinopathy (Jumper's Knee)
Patellar tendinopathy — often called "jumper's knee" — is a chronic overuse condition of the tendon connecting the kneecap (patella) to the shin bone. It usually causes a focused ache just below the kneecap that worsens with jumping, squatting, or descending stairs. A medical evaluation confirms the diagnosis; shockwave therapy is sometimes considered when symptoms persist despite a structured loading program.
Common Symptoms
- Pain directly below the kneecap, often described as sharply localized rather than diffuse
- Pain that worsens with jumping, squatting, kneeling, or going down stairs
- Stiffness after periods of rest, especially first thing in the morning
- Pain that may ease during warm-up, then worsen again afterward
- Tenderness when pressing on the tendon just below the kneecap
Why It Happens
The patellar tendon absorbs very high forces during jumping and rapid deceleration. Repeated high-load activity can outpace the tendon's ability to adapt, leading to the same disorganized collagen structure and localized tissue changes seen in other tendinopathies.
Why It Can Become Persistent
Because the patellar tendon is loaded during ordinary activities like stairs, squatting, and standing up from a chair — not just sport — it's difficult to fully rest, and inconsistent or incomplete loading programs are a common reason symptoms drag on for months in active individuals.
Who Commonly Gets It
Patellar tendinopathy is especially common in athletes involved in jumping sports (volleyball, basketball) and in runners, but it also occurs in recreational gym-goers and people whose activities involve repetitive squatting or stair use.
How It Is Usually Diagnosed
Diagnosis is typically clinical, based on the pattern of pain and tenderness directly over the patellar tendon, along with functional tests such as a single-leg decline squat. Ultrasound or MRI can confirm tendon changes when the diagnosis is unclear or symptoms are atypical.
Traditional Treatment Options
- Progressive loading program: Structured exercise, often including isometric and heavy-slow-resistance phases, is considered a mainstay of treatment.
- Activity modification: Temporarily reducing jumping/deceleration load while maintaining general fitness.
- Physical therapy: Guided rehabilitation addressing tendon loading, hip and quad strength, and landing mechanics.
- Patellar strap/taping: Can reduce symptomatic load on the tendon during activity for some patients.
- NSAIDs: Sometimes used short-term for symptom control.
Why Someone Might Start Looking for Another Option
Loading programs for patellar tendinopathy typically take a minimum of several weeks to show meaningful change, and adherence is genuinely difficult for many active patients. When pain persists despite a real effort at a loading program, it's common to look into additional options.
Where Shockwave Therapy May Fit
Shockwave therapy has been studied for patellar tendinopathy, generally as an addition to — rather than a substitute for — a loading program. It doesn't require injections or time away from most daily activities.
How Shockwave Treatment Works for This Area
Acoustic pressure waves are delivered to the affected portion of the patellar tendon, most often just below the kneecap. See What Research Says below for the specific trial evidence in patellar tendinopathy and its limitations.
What the Treatment Feels Like
Most patients feel a firm, rhythmic pressure or tapping sensation, with some tenderness directly over the sore spot on the tendon. Sessions are brief and most patients resume normal daily activity the same day.
What Happens During Your First Visit
Your visit begins with a provider evaluation focused on your history and a physical exam relevant to your complaint. If shockwave therapy is determined to be clinically appropriate, your first treatment can typically be provided the same visit. See our What to Expect page for the full walkthrough.
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First treatment provided when clinically appropriate following your examination.
Who May Not Be Appropriate
- Suspected patellar tendon tear/rupture, which requires prompt medical evaluation
- Active infection, open wounds, or certain bone conditions at the treatment site
- Certain circulatory, neurological, or bleeding-related conditions, per your provider's screening
- Growth-plate-open adolescents with anterior knee pain, who need condition-specific evaluation (such as for Osgood-Schlatter disease) rather than assuming adult patellar tendinopathy
This list is not exhaustive. Your provider will screen for contraindications during your evaluation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Systematic reviews of shockwave therapy for patellar tendinopathy have generally reported improvements in pain and function, though the number of high-quality trials is smaller than for some other tendinopathies. A clinical evaluation determines appropriateness for your case.
No. Patellar tendinopathy causes focal pain right at the tendon below the kneecap, while patellofemoral pain is usually a more diffuse ache around or behind the kneecap related to how the kneecap tracks during movement. The two can coexist, which is part of why an accurate evaluation matters.
What Research Says
Selected sources relevant to patellar tendinopathy. See the full Research Center for our complete source registry and methodology.
Journal of Human Kinetics · 2022 · Stania et al.
Pooled results across included trials showed shockwave therapy reduced pain and improved function in patellar tendinopathy (jumper's knee), though the certainty of evidence varied by outcome measured.
Limitations: The authors noted a limited number of high-quality randomized trials specific to patellar tendinopathy compared with the evidence base for plantar fasciitis or lateral epicondylitis.
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First treatment provided when clinically appropriate following your examination.