Patellar Tendon Pain: Symptoms, Causes, And Treatments

The patellar tendon is a strong band of tissue responsible for keeping the kneecap in place, stabilizing the knee, and enabling movements like jumping, running, and squatting. Despite how reliable and resilient this tendon is, overuse and the age-related degeneration of tissue can lead to what’s known as “jumper’s knee” – an inflammatory condition that causes pain and restricted mobility.

Fortunately, taking medications daily to manage the pain or undergoing invasive surgical procedures are no longer the only options if you have patellar tendonitis. In this guide, we’ll explore how RELATYV Mobile Pain Management can help you regain your knee health without surgery or drugs.

Let’s get started.

What Is Patellar Tendon Pain? 

Patellar tendonitis or tendinopathy is a condition defined by the inflammation and damage of the patellar tendon. The patellar tendon is a strong band of tissue that connects the bottom of the patella (the kneecap) to the top of the shinbone (tibia). Although it is referred to as a “tendon”, this cord of tissue is, in fact, a ligament, as it connects two bones.

Its main role is to provide stability and range of motion to the knee, as well as prevent injuries like dislocations during jumping and squatting movements. The patellar tendon also works together with the surrounding muscles to enable the movement that allows you to bend and straighten the knee.

Patellar tendonitis occurs when the patellar tendon becomes irritated, torn, inflamed, or damaged due to overuse, stress, or tissue degeneration. This condition causes severe pain and restricted mobility, which can prevent you from participating in sports and competitions.

Given that over 45% of jumping athletes and up to 14% of recreational jumping athletes will experience patellar tendonitis during their careers, this condition is often dubbed “jumper’s knee”.

The level of pain caused by this condition varies, with some people only experiencing mild discomfort and others struggling with chronic pain. When left unaddressed, a knee affected by patellar tendonitis can take months to heal fully.

In the sections below, we’ll explore what patellar tendon pain feels like, what causes it, and how you can address it efficiently without surgery or medications.

How Does Pain In The Patellar Tendon Feel?

Patellar tendonitis occurs over time, often due to repeated stress to the knee or excessive load bearing. This means that, at first, you may only experience minor discomfort around the knee. However, when left untreated, mild knee discomfort can develop into severe, life-limiting pain.

Because of the pain and swelling, you may become unable to perform daily activities that involve bending the knee (e.g. climbing stairs, sitting, and squatting). If you are an athlete or sportsperson, the pain may intensify during physical activity and prevent you from participating in sports.

Some of the key symptoms that may indicate patellar tendonitis include:

• Pain under the kneecap, where it connects to the shinbone. Patellar tendon pain can appear as a dull ache that worsens over time and during physical activity.
• Difficulty fully extending the knee. Inflammation around the patellar tendon often causes swelling and stiffness. These complications occur as part of the normal inflammatory response of the body, which increases blood circulation and causes the build-up of fluids around the site of injury. The stiffness, coupled with pain and swelling, can prevent you from fully straightening the knee.
• Increased pain during specific movements. Patellar tendonitis often manifests itself as pain that intensifies during knee motion that involves the patellar tendon. These motions include jumping, squatting, and descending stairs.

Common Places Where The Pain Is Felt

If you experience pain around the knee, it is important to understand whether this is related to problems with the patellar tendon, or whether other structures are involved (i.e. the cruciate or lateral ligaments).

An easy way to self-diagnose patellar tendonitis is to assess where the pain is located. You may suffer from this condition if:

• You experience pain below the kneecap, at the top of the shinbone.
• Swelling is present where the patellar tendon attaches to the shinbone, at the front of your knee.
• The area under your kneecap may feel tender or painful only when touching it.
• You experience burning sensations when bending your knee, jumping, or getting up from a squat.

Patellar Tendon Pain Causes and Risk Factors

Patellar tendon pain often develops as a consequence of overuse, excessive stress to the knee, or abnormal load bearing. However, it can also stem from other causes and risk factors, including aging, inflammatory conditions like arthritis, knee injuries, and chronic diseases that weaken the knee.

Next, we’ll explore the most common causes of patellar tendon pain.

Overuse or Repetitive Strain

The most common causes of patellar tendon pain are overuse and repetitive strain of the patellar tendon. When the tendon needs to withstand excessive stress for prolonged periods, it can become more prone to micro-tears and injuries, which reduce the supply of blood to the area and trigger the body’s inflammatory response (i.e. pain and swelling).

This can occur due to activities that involve the patellar tendon and put excessive strain on its tissues, such as jumping, sprinting, or changing direction at fast speeds.

So it isn’t surprising that patellar tendonitis is highly prevalent among recreational and elite athletes. For example, it is estimated that up to half of all professional volleyball players will struggle with patellar tendon pain during their careers. And, in most cases, patellar tendon pain becomes a recurring or chronic condition that significantly interferes with their performance.

The risk of developing patellar tendonitis as an athlete depends on multiple factors, including:

• Level of participation in sports that involve jumping motions
• Frequency of training
• Type of sport

Some of the activities that significantly increase the risk of patellar tendon pain include basketball, dance, football, gymnastics, running, volleyball, track, and figure skating.

Nonetheless, playing certain sports isn’t the only factor that can put your patellar tendon under excessive stress. For example, if you are overweight or obese, carrying excessive weight can strain the knee and cause constant stress to its components. According to a 2014 study, obesity is directly associated with a greater risk of patellar tendinopathy, and nearly 30% of patients with a high BMI (body mass index) report signs of jumper’s knee.

Previous Knee Injuries

Past knee injuries can have a profound impact on the overall health of your knee and increase your risk of suffering from patellar tendon pain. In particular, a 2008 study shows that a single traumatic event can lead to chronic patellar tendon problems and traumatic patellar tendinopathy.

Additionally, this condition can stem from old knee injuries due to:

• Improper rehabilitation or recovery
• Fractures that have changed the mechanics of the knee
• Misalignments and mechanical problems to the feet, ankles, and legs

These medical events can impact how the knee moves and how external forces are redistributed by load-bearing joints, thus adding abnormal pressure to the patellar tendon during movements.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory and autoimmune disease that occurs when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells and tissues, such as the ones in the knee joint. Rheumatoid arthritis causes sustained high levels of inflammation that, over time, cause the degeneration of essential structures like bones, ligaments, and tendons.