Patellar Tendinopathy (Jumper's Knee) Treatment in Doha

What is patellar tendinopathy?

The patellar tendon connects the lower edge of the kneecap (patella) to the shin bone. Every time you jump, land, sprint or squat, it transmits the force of the thigh muscles. When the load on the tendon repeatedly exceeds what it can adapt to, the tendon tissue changes: it becomes thicker, less organised and painful. This is called tendinopathy.

The older term, tendonitis, suggests inflammation, but in most patients the problem is a failed healing response to overload rather than true inflammation. That distinction matters, because rest and anti-inflammatory tablets alone rarely fix it.

Symptoms in patients' own words

• "It hurts just below my kneecap when I jump or land"
• "The first few minutes of training are sore, then it warms up, then it hurts more afterwards"
• "Going down stairs or squatting deep is painful"
• "Sitting for a long time with my knee bent makes it ache"
• Tenderness when pressing on the tendon just under the kneecap

Pain is usually well localised to one spot. Significant swelling, locking or the knee giving way suggest a different problem and should be examined.

Who gets it

Jumper's knee is common in basketball, volleyball, football, padel and athletics, and in gym users who add heavy squats, lunges or plyometrics quickly. Teenage and young adult athletes are most often affected. Risk rises with a sudden increase in training volume, hard indoor courts, tight or weak thigh and calf muscles, and returning to sport after a break. In Qatar, many people move their training indoors during the summer or squeeze intense sessions into the cooler months, and those abrupt changes in load are a frequent trigger.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is clinical: the history, where the pain is, and how the tendon responds to loading tests such as a single-leg decline squat. Ultrasound or MRI can confirm thickening of the tendon and rule out other causes of front-of-knee pain, such as kneecap cartilage problems, a fat pad irritation or, in teenagers, Osgood-Schlatter disease. Imaging is not always required at the first visit.

Non-surgical treatment

• Load management: reduce jumping and the activities that flare the pain, without stopping all exercise
• Isometric holds, such as a wall sit or leg extension held for 30 to 45 seconds, which often ease pain in the short term
• Progressive strengthening, moving to slow heavy squats and leg presses over weeks
• A gradual return to running, jumping and change of direction once strength improves
• Attention to hip, calf and ankle strength and to landing technique

The tendon adapts slowly, so programmes usually run for three months or more. Shock wave therapy may help some patients who plateau. Steroid injections into or around the tendon are generally avoided because they can weaken it. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections are sometimes discussed, but evidence for them is mixed, and they are not a substitute for loading exercise.

When surgery is considered

Surgery is uncommon. It may be considered when a long, well-supervised rehabilitation programme of six months or more has not worked and imaging confirms a diseased area of tendon. The procedure removes the degenerated tissue and stimulates healing, through a small open incision or arthroscopically. Rehabilitation after surgery takes several months before full return to jumping sports.

When to see a knee specialist in Doha

Book an assessment if the pain has lasted more than six to eight weeks despite reducing load, if it is getting worse, or if it is affecting your sport, work or prayer. Seek prompt care if you felt a sudden pop at the front of the knee and cannot straighten the leg, which can indicate a tendon rupture. Dr. Gelber assesses tendon pain at Aman Hospital in Doha and works with physiotherapists on a programme matched to your sport and schedule.