Infrapatellar Tendinopathy

Infrapatellar tendinopathy is a specific diagnosis under the umbrella of patellofemoral pain syndrome. Colloquially referred to as “jumper’s knee” this condition is a repetitive stress injury where there is pain and stiffness at the front of the knee and the infrapatellar tendon and its attachment to the kneecap are the main pain generators. The greatest predisposing factor to developing infrapatellar tendinopathy is instability at the knee which causes excessive strain on the tendon.  

Knee stability comes primarily from hip muscle activity, particularly the glutes. Therefore, to address the underlying cause of tendinopathy, examination of the entire lower extremity and assessment of core strength and stability are critical. If there has been a problem in the lower extremity and excessive strain on the infrapatellar tendon for a long time, there will be scarring in the tendon which reduces its elasticity and keeps the injury cycle in play. Active Release Techniques® serves to break apart those adhesions, restores structural integrity of the tendon, and rebalances muscles in the lower body to train biomechanically sound movement patterns.