Maven Sports Medicine effectively combines our high standard of orthopedic rehabilitation practice with our clear understanding of elite fitness and sports performance. Maven’s Doctors of Physical Therapy have decades of combined practice experience in orthopedic rehabilitation, sports strength/conditioning, fitness, and athletic training. Our dedication to providing excellent evidence-based care to all our active and athletic patients remains consistent.

Tendonitis can afflict any tendon of any muscle. With regards to the knee, there are four groups that are commonly treated. Patellar- inflammation of the tendon that attaches the patella to the tibia. Palpable pain is often located below the kneecap and during high intensity activity- jumping, running, stairclimbing.

Quadriceps- the region above the knee is where the quadriceps tendon attaches to the patella. Similar to patellar tendonitis, activities that engage the quadriceps may lead to inflammation.

Hamstring- Occurs frequently with hurdlers. Each of the three hamstring muscles is susceptible to tendonitis and pain is often located behind the knee or distal thigh.

Pes Anserine- Common in breastroke swimmers as they snap their knees medially, inflammation of the triad tendon complex consisting of the semitendinosus, gracilis, and the sartorius tendons. Pain and swelling on the inner portion of the knee and tibial region are the primary symptoms of pes anserine tendonitis.


Physical Therapy Intervention- As with any tendonitis in any part of the body, early detection and treatment often results in an expedited recovery and the best results. Many patients pursue physical therapy long after the tendonitis has become chronic and thus, the results are often variable. Use of passive modalities including iontophoresis and pulsed ultrasound to deliver cortisone transdermally may be effective as well as cold laser therapy. For more chronic tendonitis, an aggressive manual approach may be necessary consisting of deep friction massage with active stretching, inhibitory taping of the tendon, and eccentric strength training ("negatives" in gym terminology).