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Patellar Tendinopathy in Sunbury – Causes, Treatment & When to See a Chiropractor

Updated: 5 days ago


Patellar Tendinopathy in Sunbury – Causes, Treatment & When to See a Chiropractor

About the Author

Dr Julian Simpson is an Australian chiropractor with over 15 years of experience in musculoskeletal healthcare and rehabilitation.

He is a Board Member of the Chiropractic Australia Research Foundation and has reviewed and written more than 800 evidence-based health articles focused on spinal health, rehabilitation, sports injuries and conservative care approaches.

His treatment focus includes:

  • Chiropractic adjustments

  • Sports chiropractic

  • Massage therapy

  • Shockwave therapy

  • Laser therapy

  • Non-surgical spinal decompression

Dr Simpson provides patient care through Healthwise Chiropractic, serving communities including Sunbury, Melton, Diggers Rest and surrounding regions.

Patellar tendinopathy (jumper’s knee) is commonly caused by repetitive jumping, overuse, and quadriceps weakness. Research shows a 12-week eccentric decline squat program can reduce pain by up to 68% and improve strength and balance by over 10%, making it one of the most effective non-surgical treatments. At Health Wise Chiropractic Sunbury, we combine rehab, hands-on care, and movement correction to help you recover faster.

Patellar Tendinopathy in Sunbury – Causes, Treatment & When to See a Chiropractor

🟨 What is Patellar Tendinopathy?

Patellar tendinopathy (often called jumper’s knee) is a common overuse injury affecting the tendon connecting your kneecap to your shinbone.

It’s especially common in athletes who participate in:

  • Basketball

  • Volleyball

  • Running

  • Football

This condition causes:

  • Pain just below the kneecap

  • Stiffness during movement

  • Reduced strength and performance

👉 In fact, studies show up to 53% of athletes with patellar tendinopathy stop sports due to knee pain.

🟨 Why is Patellar Tendinopathy a Bigger Problem Than Just Pain?

It’s not just about knee pain — it affects your balance, strength, and injury risk.

Research shows:

  • Athletes with patellar tendinopathy are 4.24x more likely to suffer another lower limb injury

  • Quadriceps weakness explains 48% of reduced balance performance

  • Pain contributes to neuromuscular inhibition, limiting recovery

👉 This means untreated tendon issues can lead to ongoing injuries and performance decline.


🟨 New Research: What Actually Works?

A randomised controlled trial (Level II evidence) looked at 40 athletes with patellar tendinopathy.

The Key Intervention:

A 12-week eccentric decline squat program with progressive loading

🟩 KEY RESULTS (POWERFUL SEO CONTENT)

After 12 weeks, the rehab group showed:

✅ Pain Reduction

  • 68.7% decrease in pain (VAS scale)

  • VISA-P scores improved by 34.9%

✅ Strength Gains

  • Quadriceps strength increased by 17.5% (~+99N)

✅ Balance & Stability Improvements

  • Dynamic balance improved by ~10–12% (Y-Balance Test)

  • Postural control improved by up to 23% in single-leg balance

👉 These improvements were NOT seen in the control group

🟨 Why Eccentric Exercises Work So Well


Eccentric training (slow lowering movements) helps by:

  • Increasing tendon strength and flexibility

  • Reducing tendon stiffness by ~15%

  • Improving force absorption for jumping

  • Reducing abnormal blood vessel growth (linked to pain)

👉 One study even showed 89% of patients had pain relief after eccentric rehab


🟨 The Best Exercise: Decline Squats

The study highlighted decline squats (on a 25° angle board) as more effective than flat squats.

Why?

  • Targets the quadriceps–patellar tendon complex more directly

  • Reduces compensation from calf muscles

  • Provides better tendon loading for healing

🟨 What This Means for You, our Sunbury and Melton patients


If you’re dealing with:

  • Knee pain when squatting or jumping

  • Pain during sport or gym

  • Ongoing tendon irritation

👉 The right rehab program can significantly improve pain, strength, and performance without medication or surgery


🟨 How We Treat Patellar Tendinopathy at Health Wise Chiropractic Sunbury

At Health Wise Chiropractic, we don’t just treat the pain — we fix the cause.

Your care plan may include:

  • ✅ Eccentric rehabilitation programs (like decline squats)

  • ✅ Chiropractic adjustments for lower limb alignment

  • ✅ Soft tissue therapy for quads and patellar tendon

  • ✅ Shockwave therapy (for stubborn tendon pain)

  • ✅ Movement and posture correction

  • ✅ Return-to-sport planning


🟨 When Should You See a Chiropractor?

You should seek help if:

  • Pain lasts longer than 2–3 weeks

  • It’s affecting your sport or training

  • You feel weakness or instability

  • Pain is getting worse, not better

👉 Early treatment = faster recovery and lower injury risk



What is the fastest way to heal patellar tendinopathy?

A structured rehab program — especially eccentric exercises over 12 weeks — is one of the most effective treatments.

Can I keep training with jumper’s knee?

In many cases yes, but training must be modified to avoid worsening the injury.

Do I need surgery for patellar tendinopathy?

Most cases improve with conservative care like rehab, chiropractic, and load management.

How long does recovery take?

Most evidence-based programs take 8–12 weeks for significant improvement.

Reviewed by Dr Julian Simpson, Chiropractor at Health Wise Chiropractic, Sunbury 21 Powellet Street, Sunbury & 131 Wembley Avenue, Strathtulloh


At Health Wise Chiropractic, we regularly treat patients with [condition], helping them return to work, sport, and daily activities pain-free.



reference


Fendri T, Beaune B, Rebai H, Chaari F, Harrabi MA, Rahmani A, Boyas S, Sahli S. Progressive tendon-loading eccentric exercise therapy in athletes with patellar tendinopathy improves postural control, quadriceps strength and pain: a randomized clinical trial. J ISAKOS. 2026 Mar 27:101105. doi: 10.1016/j.jisako.2026.101105. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41905494.

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