Patellar Tendinopathy: Diagnosis and Management

Purpose of Review: Patellar tendinopathy is a common cause of anterior knee pain. This review discusses the current concepts relating to the development of this condition and the best evidence on diagnosis and management of this condition. Recent Findings: Patellar tendon biomechanics should be considered as a predisposing factor for development of patellar tendinopathy. Diagnosis is clinical and supported by ultrasound or MRI. The most reliable treatment is targeted exercise therapy with several useful adjunctive treatments available and undergoing more study. For refractory cases, minimally invasive and arthroscopic surgeries are preferred due to lower risk of complication and shorter recovery time. Surgical intervention for biomechanical deficits may be a useful strategy but requires more research. Summary: Patellar tendinopathy is diagnosed clinically, and the most important treatment is physical therapy with surgery reserved for recalcitrant cases. Areas for future study include adjunctive treatments and surgical correction of the biomechanics of the patellar tendon.