Patellar Tendonitis & Treatments
As your local knee Pain Specialists Empire Pain Management, Minimally Invasive Spine & Orthopedic Specialists understand how debilitating Patellar Tendonitis. Call us today to make an appointment we serve patients across New York and New Jersey, including communities such as Plainview, Ronkonkoma, New Hyde Park, Montville, and Plainfield.
Patellar tendonitis — often called “jumper’s knee” — is pain in the tendon just below your kneecap, common in athletes who run and jump. It’s an overuse injury, and the good news is that most cases respond well to the right conservative care. Our orthopedic and sports medicine team treats it across Long Island and northern New Jersey, with offices in Plainview, New Hyde Park, and Ronkonkoma, NY, and Clifton, Montville, and Plainfield, NJ.
The short version
- Patellar tendonitis is inflammation or wear of the tendon connecting the kneecap to the shin bone.
- It’s an overuse injury, common in jumping and running sports — hence “jumper’s knee.”
- The main symptom is pain at the front of the knee, just below the kneecap, that worsens with activity.
- Most cases improve with rest, therapy, and load management; surgery is rarely needed.
What patellar tendonitis is
The patellar tendon connects your kneecap (patella) to your shin bone and works hard every time you jump, run, or squat. With repetitive stress, the tendon can become irritated, inflamed, or start to break down — producing pain right below the kneecap. It’s especially common in sports involving frequent jumping, such as basketball and volleyball.
The pain usually starts as an ache that shows up with activity and eases with rest. Left unaddressed, it can progress to hurting during everyday movements, so it’s worth treating early.
How patellar tendonitis is treated
Treatment centers on calming the tendon and correcting the overload that caused it:
- Relative rest and load management — easing off aggravating activities while keeping the rest of your training going.
- Physical therapy — targeted strengthening (especially eccentric exercises) is the cornerstone of recovery and helps prevent recurrence.
- Ice and anti-inflammatories — to manage pain during flares.
- PRP therapy — for stubborn cases that haven’t responded to conservative care, PRP therapy uses your own platelets to support tendon healing.
Straight talk: Patellar tendonitis can be stubborn and take time to settle, but it rarely requires surgery. The most reliable path is a well-designed strengthening program and patience with the load management — not a quick fix. We’ll build a realistic plan with you.
Are you a candidate for treatment?
It’s worth being evaluated when:
- You have persistent pain just below the kneecap that worsens with activity
- Rest and home care haven’t resolved it
- The pain is starting to affect everyday movement, not just sport
- You want a structured plan to recover and prevent it coming back
Related conditions
Front-of-knee pain has more than one cause. If your pain is more around or behind the kneecap, see our patellofemoral syndrome page, or return to our knee pain overview.
Why patients across Long Island and North Jersey choose Empire
We’re a local orthopedic and sports medicine practice, so your evaluation, therapy, and follow-up all happen close to home with the same team.
- New York: Plainview, New Hyde Park, and Ronkonkoma — across Nassau and Suffolk
- New Jersey: Clifton, Montville, and Plainfield — serving Passaic, Morris, and Union County communities
- Orthopedics and sports medicine under one roof
- Regenerative options like PRP for stubborn tendon problems
Insurance
Coverage varies by plan and by location, and we accept many major insurance plans across our New York and New Jersey offices. The simplest way to know exactly what your plan covers is to call — our team will verify your benefits before your visit, so there are no surprises. Whether you’re on Long Island or in North Jersey, reach out and we’ll walk you through your options.
Frequently asked questions
What does patellar tendonitis feel like?
Pain and tenderness just below the kneecap, usually worse with jumping, running, squatting, or climbing stairs, and better with rest — at least early on.
How long does it take to heal?
It varies. Mild cases can settle in a few weeks with load management and therapy; stubborn cases take longer. Consistency with a strengthening program is the key.
Should I stop exercising completely?
Usually not. Relative rest — easing off the aggravating activity while continuing other training — tends to work better than complete inactivity. Your therapist will guide the balance.
Do I need surgery?
Rarely. The large majority of cases respond to conservative care. Surgery is considered only for severe, persistent cases that don’t improve with a full course of treatment.
Can PRP help patellar tendonitis?
For stubborn cases that haven’t responded to therapy, PRP may support tendon healing. Whether it’s a fit depends on your specific situation, which we’ll assess.
How do I keep it from coming back?
Ongoing strength work, gradual increases in training load, proper warm-ups, and good technique all reduce the chance of recurrence.
Nagging pain below your kneecap?
Our orthopedic and sports medicine team sees patients across Long Island, NY and northern New Jersey. We’ll confirm it’s patellar tendonitis and build a plan to get you back to activity.
New York: 516-229-1443 | New Jersey: 732-630-7246
Pain treatments are covered by most major medical insurances including Medicare, Workers Comp, No Fault & Others.
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Meet Our Pain Management & Orthopedic Specialists
Dr. Monica Misak
Interventional Pain Specialist
Dr. James Yu, D.O.
Board Certified Anesthesiologist
Board Certified Interventional
Pain Management Physician
Dylan J. O'Rourke
Certified Physician Assistant
Pain Conditions Affecting Daily Life
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