Knee Tendinopathy (Patellar & Quadriceps Tendon Pain)
Knee tendinopathy, sometimes referred to as "tendonitis", is a common cause of pain at the front of the knee. It most commonly affects either the patellar tendon below the kneecap or the quadriceps tendon above the kneecap.
It is particularly common in runners, cyclists, gym users and people who participate in sports involving jumping, sprinting or repeated changes of direction.
At Momentum Joint Care, we offer doctor-led assessment and ultrasound-guided injection treatments for selected patients with persistent tendon pain.
What is Knee Tendinopathy?
Tendons connect muscles to bone and help transfer force during movement.
When a tendon is exposed to more load than it can comfortably tolerate, small structural changes can develop within the tendon. This is known as tendinopathy.
Despite the term "tendonitis" often being used, which suggests inflammation, most long-standing tendon problems are not primarily inflammatory conditions. Instead, they are usually caused by a combination of overload, reduced tendon capacity and failed healing responses.
Patellar Tendinopathy
Patellar tendinopathy affects the tendon connecting the kneecap (patella) to the shin bone.
It is often called "jumper's knee" because it commonly occurs in sports involving jumping and explosive movements.
Pain is usually felt directly below the kneecap.
Quadriceps Tendinopathy
Quadriceps tendinopathy affects the tendon connecting the thigh muscles to the top of the kneecap.
Pain is usually felt just above the kneecap and may worsen with running, squatting, stairs or jumping activities.
Pain directly above or below the kneecap
Pain during sport or exercise
Pain when squatting or climbing stairs
Stiffness when first starting activity
Tenderness when pressing on the tendon
Symptoms that settle with rest but return when activity increases
The most important treatment for tendinopathy is usually a structured rehabilitation programme.
This may include:
Physiotherapy-led strengthening exercises
Gradual return to sport
Load management and activity modification
Addressing flexibility, strength and biomechanical factors
Managing training volume
Most patients improve with an appropriate rehabilitation programme, although recovery can take several months.
PRP is prepared from a sample of your own blood and contains a concentrated amount of platelets and growth factors.
PRP may be considered when:
Symptoms have been present for several months
Physiotherapy alone has not provided sufficient improvement
Tendon pain is limiting sport or daily activities
Imaging and examination support a diagnosis of chronic tendinopathy
PRP aims to stimulate healing within the tendon and may help improve pain and function over time.
Improvements typically develop gradually over weeks to months rather than immediately.
Corticosteroid injections are generally not recommended directly into the patellar or quadriceps tendons.
While steroids can sometimes provide short-term pain relief, they may weaken tendon tissue and increase the risk of tendon rupture.
For this reason, we do not routinely inject corticosteroids into these tendons.
In selected cases, a steroid injection may be considered if pain is arising from an adjacent inflamed structure rather than the tendon itself.
Although both conditions can cause pain at the front of the knee, they are different problems.
Tendinopathy usually causes localised pain directly above or below the kneecap and is often aggravated by jumping, running or explosive activities.
Patellofemoral pain syndrome tends to cause more diffuse pain around or behind the kneecap and is commonly aggravated by stairs, squatting or prolonged sitting.
A clinical assessment can help determine which condition is responsible for your symptoms.
If tendon pain is limiting your sport, exercise or daily activities despite rehabilitation, we can help.
Following assessment, we will discuss whether further rehabilitation, PRP treatment or another approach is most appropriate for your condition.