I am over 35 and play padel or basketball at weekends. Why has jumper's knee hit me now?

Why age changes the picture

With age, tendons become stiffer and take longer to recover between hard sessions. Many adults in Doha also sit for long hours during the week and then play intensely on Friday and Saturday. That pattern of little load followed by a lot is exactly what tendons handle poorly. Weight gain, reduced leg strength and some medical conditions, such as diabetes, can add to the strain.

Ruling out other causes

In older players, pain at the front of the knee is not always the tendon. Kneecap cartilage wear, early osteoarthritis, fat pad irritation and bursitis can feel similar. Pain that is diffuse, worse on stairs, or comes with swelling deserves examination before assuming it is a tendon problem. Dr. Gelber checks for these at Aman Hospital and arranges imaging only when it will change the plan.

How treatment is adapted

• Strength work is still the core, but progression is slower and recovery days matter more
• A mid-week strength session reduces the shock of weekend matches
• Jumping and sprinting are reintroduced in smaller steps
• Overall fitness, body weight and sleep are part of the plan
• Expect a programme of three months or more for a well-established tendinopathy

Staying in the game

Many players continue with modified playing time during rehabilitation, for example shorter matches, doubles rather than singles, or avoiding back-to-back days. Steroid injections into the tendon are usually avoided. If pain persists despite a well-run programme, Dr. Gelber can review the diagnosis and discuss further options.