Does shockwave therapy treat patellar tendinitis?

Patellar tendinitis, often called jumper's knee, affects the tendon between the kneecap and shinbone. Pain commonly appears below the kneecap during jumping, running, squatting, or stairs. Shockwave therapy applies mechanical pulses to the symptomatic tendon. A clinician selects the area and intensity after assessment. The treatment may help settle symptoms enough for planned strengthening, but it cannot replace diagnosis, load management, or attention to movement technique.

Start with an examination of the knee and the activities that provoke it. Rehabilitation may progress from comfortable isometric work to controlled strengthening and then sport-specific jumping, guided by symptoms. Reduce sudden increases in jumping, sprinting, or deep squats while capacity builds. Tell the provider about blood-thinning medicine, bleeding disorders, infection, a recent injection, or pain that began with a sudden pop.

Seek assessment when pain limits stairs, sport, or daily movement, or does not improve with sensible load reduction. Urgent evaluation is needed after a pop with inability to straighten the knee, sudden major swelling, or inability to bear weight.

Ask whether the patellar tendon is the pain source, which loading stage suits your knee, when jumping can resume, and how shockwave therapy will be combined with exercise.