Quick Summary
Pain just below the kneecap during jumping or running often needs a better loading plan. Build tendon capacity with rehabilitation matched to your sport and symptoms. Our physiotherapists in New Malden can assess your symptoms and help you choose appropriate next steps for your goals.
Understanding Patellar Tendinopathy (Jumper’s Knee)
Patellar tendinopathy is load-related pain in the tendon linking the kneecap to the shin. It commonly affects people whose activities involve jumping, sprinting or repeated knee loading. It is different from a sudden tendon rupture and from growth-related knee pain in children.
Assessment at J&J Therapy
Assessment checks the tendon, knee movement and strength, then relates symptoms to your weekly activity. We agree useful measures such as stair comfort, squat tolerance and training response. A sudden loss of active knee extension requires urgent evaluation.
Do You Experience These Symptoms?
- Local pain at or just below the lower edge of the kneecap.
- Discomfort with jumping, landing, squatting or accelerating.
- Pain that eases during activity but returns afterwards or the next day.
An assessment helps guide your next step, based on your symptoms, health and goals.
Why symptoms may develop
A rapid rise in training, insufficient recovery or a mismatch between tendon capacity and demand can contribute. It is not always simply inflammation. We consider the pattern of pain, training schedule and other reasons for front-of-knee symptoms.
Treatment and rehabilitation options
Hands-On Manual Therapy
Soft tissue work to the thigh or calf may help associated tightness or short-term comfort. It does not replace progressive tendon loading or reliably repair tendon changes. Direct pressure is adjusted if the tendon is irritable. We explain the purpose and check your comfort and response throughout treatment.
Is Shockwave Suitable?
Shockwave is not an automatic part of patellar tendon care. Evidence varies by treatment method and patient group. Any consideration of radial shockwave follows assessment and discussion of uncertainty, alongside a suitable rehabilitation programme. Your physiotherapist can explain the more suitable options and how their effect will be reviewed during your ongoing rehabilitation.
Targeted Exercise Programme
Progressive strengthening is central. We work from tolerable tendon loading towards heavier strength work, then jumping, landing and sport-specific demands. Training is adjusted using your response over the following day, with progression based on capacity rather than a fixed timetable.
When to Seek Urgent Medical Help
While most symptoms are not serious, urgent medical attention is required if you experience any of the following:
- Seek urgent GP or NHS 111 advice if you cannot move the knee, bear weight, or straighten a knee that is locked.
- A hot swollen knee with fever or feeling unwell needs urgent medical assessment.
- Go to A&E for a deformed leg after injury or a foot that becomes cold, pale or numb.
Your questions answered
Should I stop all exercise?
Complete rest can reduce fitness without preparing the tendon for your sport. We help you reduce provocative loads while keeping suitable activity and building strength.
Is jumper’s knee the same as Osgood–Schlatter disease?
No. Osgood–Schlatter affects a growth area at the top of the shin in young people. The location, age and examination matter before choosing treatment.
Which appointment should I book?
Start with a Physiotherapy Initial Assessment for new, persistent or recurring symptoms. We can assess the problem and agree a plan linked to your daily activities. If you have already had medical care or surgery, bring the relevant instructions.
Soft Tissue Therapy may be a supporting option for associated muscle discomfort once the condition has been assessed. It is not a substitute for diagnosis or the rehabilitation needed for the underlying problem.
Book a Physiotherapy Assessment or call our reception team on 07935 869938. Find J&J Therapy at CI Tower, Ground Floor, New Malden.
Related conditions
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (Runner’s Knee) · Osgood–Schlatter Disease
Sources and further reading
This page is for general information only and does not replace professional medical advice.
Information updated 15 October 2026. General information only; this page cannot diagnose your symptoms. Treatment is agreed after assessment. For urgent or severe symptoms, use the medical services described above.