Shockwave Therapy for Patellar Tendinopathy (Jumper’s Knee)

If you’ve ever finished a run, workout, or long day on your feet and felt a sharp ache at the front of your knee just below the kneecap, you might be dealing with patellar tendinopathy—commonly called jumper's knee. At My Family Podiatry in Albany Creek, we regularly help runners, gym-goers, and active adults manage this frustrating condition using shockwave therapy, along with strength and biomechanical correction.

Understanding Patellar Tendinopathy

Your patellar tendon connects your kneecap (patella) to your shinbone (tibia). It’s a crucial part of how your leg absorbs impact and transmits power during running, jumping, or squatting. When that tendon is placed under repetitive load without enough time to recover, it can become irritated and begin to degenerate, leading to pain that sits right below the kneecap.

Common symptoms include:

• Pain when squatting, running, or climbing stairs

• Tenderness just below the kneecap

• Stiffness first thing in the morning or after sitting

• Pain that eases as you warm up but worsens after activity

Why It Happens

Patellar tendinopathy is usually caused by repetitive overload. For most people, this isn’t just from training too hard—it’s often a combination of contributing factors that include:

• Sudden changes in activity such as ramping up running distance or gym volume

• Tight or weak quadriceps and gluteal muscles altering knee mechanics

• Flat or pronated feet increasing internal rotation at the knee

• Footwear that lacks support or shock absorption

• Poor landing mechanics or jumping technique

At our clinic, we often see the connection between foot posture and knee load. Excessive pronation can cause inward collapse of the knee, increasing strain on the patellar tendon over time.

How Shockwave Therapy Helps

At My Family Podiatry, we use focused and radial EMS Dolorclast shockwave therapy to help accelerate recovery in patients with patellar tendinopathy.

Shockwave therapy works by delivering acoustic energy into the affected tissue. This triggers a biological response that includes:

• Increased blood flow to the tendon

• Stimulation of tissue regeneration

• Breakdown of chronic scar tissue

• Pain relief through nerve desensitisation

For tendinopathies like this one, research has shown that shockwave therapy can promote healing in cases where standard rest and rehabilitation have plateaued.

Focused vs Radial Shockwave

Our clinic uses both forms of EMS Dolorclast technology to treat knee pain effectively:

• Focused shockwave therapy penetrates deeper and is ideal for treating the thick portion of the patellar tendon directly below the kneecap.

• Radial shockwave therapy disperses energy more broadly, helping relieve tension and trigger points in the quadriceps, patellar retinaculum, and surrounding structures that may be contributing to load imbalance.

Combining these two modalities helps us address both the tendon itself and the muscle groups that support it.

Comprehensive Assessment and Ultrasound Diagnosis

Every patient begins with a detailed biomechanical assessment. We look at foot posture, lower limb alignment, and strength through VALD Force Decks to assess asymmetries in loading.

If required, we also perform in-clinic diagnostic ultrasound to visualise the tendon and confirm whether degeneration, thickening, or partial tearing is present.This allows us to precisely target treatment and monitor improvement across sessions.

The Rehabilitation Plan

Shockwave therapy works best as part of a structured management plan that includes:

• Load management – reducing aggravating movements while maintaining conditioning

• Targeted strengthening – especially of the quadriceps, glutes, and calf muscles

• Footwear assessment – ensuring shoes are providing adequate shock absorption and stability

• Custom orthotics – where abnormal foot mechanics are increasing knee stress

Our goal isn’t just to relieve pain, but to restore long-term tendon resilience so you can return to sport without recurrence.

What to Expect from Treatment

Most patients start noticing improvement after two to three sessions, though chronic cases can require a series of up to six. Each session lasts about 10–15 minutes, and you can continue your usual activities immediately after, with minor exercise restrictions for the next 24–48 hours.

Patients typically report:

• Reduced pain and tenderness

• Improved knee strength and function

• Better tolerance for running, squats, and stairs

When to Seek Help

If your knee pain hasn’t improved with rest, stretching, or foam rolling, it’s time to seek professional help. Ignoring patellar tendinopathy can result in further tendon breakdown, prolonged pain, and reduced ability to train.

Our experienced podiatrists will work with you to identify the root cause—whether it’s foot posture, strength imbalance, or training error—and develop a plan that gets you back to pain-free movement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can shockwave therapy cure patellar tendinopathy?

It helps stimulate the tendon’s natural healing process and reduce pain, especially when used with exercise therapy.

Does it hurt?

It can feel uncomfortable during treatment, but the intensity is always adjustable. Most people tolerate it easily.

Is there downtime?

No. You can usually resume daily activity straight after, though we recommend avoiding high-impact exercise for 24–48 hours.

Can foot orthotics help with knee pain?

Yes. Correcting poor foot posture can reduce internal knee rotation and take pressure off the patellar tendon.

The Bottom Line

Patellar tendinopathy can be a stubborn injury, but with modern technology like EMS Dolorclast focused shockwave and radial shockwave therapy, recovery is now faster and more complete. At My Family Podiatry in Albany Creek, we combine shockwave, strength testing, orthotic support, and diagnostic ultrasound to help you move confidently again.

If you’re struggling with jumper’s knee or persistent knee pain, book your appointment today and see how shockwave therapy can help you get back to doing what you love.

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