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Patellar Tendinopathy with Manual Therapy

A Hands-On Approach to Knee Injury Recovery

— 24/05/25

If you're dealing with persistent knee pain, especially during activities like jumping or sprinting, you may be experiencing patellar tendinopathy—commonly known as jumper’s knee. As a manual therapist, who works in Bethesda Gwynedd ( near Bangor , North wales) I've seen how this overuse injury can affect people of all activity levels, from weekend warriors to professional athletes.

Patellar tendinopathy occurs when the patellar tendon, which connects your kneecap (patella) to your shinbone (tibia), becomes irritated or damaged. It’s a frequent issue in sports and fitness, but it can also arise from poor movement patterns or muscular imbalances. That’s why an individualized physical rehabilitation management plan is key to effective recovery.

How Manual Therapy Supports Patellar Tendinopathy Recovery

Manual therapy offers a hands-on, personalized approach to knee injury treatment. In my clinical experience, combining manual techniques with a structured rehabilitation programme can significantly improve recovery outcomes for patellar tendinopathy. Here's how:

1. Pain Relief and Inflammation Reduction

Using techniques such as soft tissue massage, myofascial release, and gentle mobilizations, manual therapy helps reduce pain and inflammation. These methods increase local blood flow, decrease muscle tightness, and help calm irritated tissues around the knee joint.

2. Restoring Mobility and Flexibility

Knee stiffness is a common complaint in patellar tendinopathy. Manual stretching and joint mobilization can help restore proper range of motion, making everyday movements easier and less painful. Improved flexibility also helps prevent further strain on the patellar tendon.

3. Supporting Tissue Healing and Remodeling

Advanced manual techniques like Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) or the Graston Technique promote tissue healing. These approaches stimulate the body’s natural repair processes, helping to break down scar tissue and encourage healthy tendon remodeling.

4. Correcting Movement Dysfunction

Often, patellar tendinopathy stems from underlying biomechanical imbalances. Through techniques like neuromuscular re-education, proprioceptive training, and guided manual adjustments, we work to retrain how the body moves—reducing stress on the knee and preventing recurrence.

5. Integrating Manual Therapy into a Complete Rehab Plan

Manual therapy isn’t a standalone fix—it’s part of a holistic rehabilitation programme. When paired with targeted exercises, activity modification, and possibly modalities like ultrasound or electrotherapy, manual therapy becomes a powerful component of a comprehensive knee injury management strategy.

 

External Resource 

 

Some videos and Exercises 

 

( These exercises seem simple and safe  to me if done according to the instructions. However this is at the user`s own risk)

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1-LibsbxWY

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxHaQRJGvYw

 

 

 

Reference list

Eckenrode, B.J., Kietrys, D.M. and Parrott, J.S. (2018). Effectiveness of Manual Therapy for Pain and Self-reported Function in Individuals With Patellofemoral Pain: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 48(5), pp.358–371. doi:https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2018.7243.

Malliaras, P., Cook, J., Purdam, C. and Rio, E. (2015). Patellar Tendinopathy: Clinical Diagnosis, Load Management, and Advice for Challenging Case Presentations. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, [online] 45(11), pp.887–898. doi:https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2015.5987.

Pedrelli, A., Stecco, C. and Day, J.A. (2009). Treating patellar tendinopathy with Fascial Manipulation. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 13(1), pp.73–80. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2008.06.002.

Ragone, F., Pérez-Guillén, S., Carrasco-Uribarren, A., Cabanillas-Barea, S., Ceballos-Laita, L., Rodríguez-Rubio, P.R. and Cabanas-Valdés, R. (2024). The Effects of Soft-Tissue Techniques and Exercise in the Treatment of Patellar Tendinopathy—Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Healthcare, [online] 12(4), p.427. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12040427.

 

 

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