Patellar Tendinitis Causes & Risks

Causes

Tendinopathy is generally caused by overuse of a muscle-tendon unit. Over time, the strain on the tendon causes structural changes within the tendon itself.

Patellar tendinopathy occurs from overuse of the knee tendon. Overuse may be caused by any activity that requires:

• Intense running
• Jumping
• Frequent stops and starts
• Frequent impact to the knee

Patellar tendinopathy is most common in the following sports:

• Basketball
• Soccer
• Volleyball
• Running

Risk Factors

Factors that increase your chance of patellar tendonopathy include:

• An increase in the frequency of training
• A sudden increase in the intensity of training
• Changing from one sport to another
• Training on a hard surface
• Repeated improper movements while training
• Muscle weakness or imbalance