Best Medical Devices for Treating Patellar Tendinitis

Derek Parker
Jun 19
4 min read

Patellar tendinitis injury outdoors – person with knee pain and athletic bandage during fall workout in park

How to Help the Body Heal Itself and Get Back to Movement You Love

Patellar tendinitis, often called "jumper’s knee," is your body’s way of telling you something’s off. It shows up when the patellar tendon—running from the kneecap to the shinbone—gets irritated from repetitive overload. For athletes and active individuals, especially those in sports like basketball, volleyball, or running, this condition is common. But just because it’s common doesn’t mean it’s something you have to live with.

At MOLO Therapy, we look at patellar tendinitis not as a “broken” part that needs to be silenced, but as a system that needs to be re-educated. Instead of chasing symptoms, we aim to restore function, resilience, and the movement you love.

What Is Patellar Tendinitis?

This condition develops when repetitive motion exceeds your body’s capacity to repair the tendon. What follows is microscopic tearing, disorganized collagen fibers, and even the growth of new but dysfunctional blood vessels (neovascularization). The result? Pain right under the kneecap—especially when you jump, land, squat, or climb stairs.

Symptoms to Watch For

Sharp or aching pain at the base of the kneecap
Pain that gets worse with movement and better with rest
Tenderness and swelling
Weakness with jumping or pushing off

Without the right intervention, it doesn’t just go away. It can become chronic tendinopathy and rob you of the movement and lifestyle you love.

How We Approach Healing at MOLO

At MOLO Therapy, we believe in treating the source, not just the symptoms. That means understanding what the tissue is telling us, calming the system down, and then building it back up. The right tools can help us stimulate healing, reinforce the nervous system’s trust in the joint, and make your body more robust for the long haul.

Here are the top medical devices clinicians and rehab professionals use for patellar tendinitis—ranked by how well they support the body’s ability to repair and return to function.

1. SoftWave Therapy: Regeneration Over Relief

SoftWave is not just another modality. It’s a cellular wake-up call. Using patented electrohydraulic shockwave technology, SoftWave sends broad acoustic waves deep into the tissue, without causing more damage. These shockwaves:

Decrease inflammation
Trigger a healing cascade
Recruit stem cells to the area
Improve blood flow and tissue oxygenation

SoftWave is like a conversation with your cells: “Hey, wake up—it’s time to repair.”

Why We Use It at MOLO

We use SoftWave because it helps the body do what it was designed to do—heal. It doesn’t just numb pain. It tells your body how to regenerate. One session can cover a large treatment area, which is great for tendons that aren’t exactly easy to isolate.

The Research

A study by Wang et al. (2018) found that shockwave therapy led to long-lasting improvements in pain and function for patients with chronic patellar tendinopathy—even two years later.

“We’ve seen athletes get back on the court faster, parents climb stairs pain-free again, and weekend warriors return to their routines—all without pills, needles, or downtime.” – Derek Parker, MOLO Founder

2. Therapeutic Ultrasound: Gentle but Limited

Ultrasound therapy uses sound waves to heat tissue, increase blood flow, and stimulate healing on a microscopic level. It can improve tissue extensibility and reduce stiffness.

What It’s Good For

Increasing tendon temperature to promote circulation
Supporting early-phase tissue healing
Pairing with mobility work

Limitations

Ultrasound is surface-level. If the tendon injury is deep or chronic, it often isn’t enough on its own. Plus, the outcome is highly dependent on the skill of the person delivering it.

3. Iontophoresis: Medication Without the Needle

Iontophoresis uses an electrical current to push anti-inflammatory medications like dexamethasone through the skin and into the tissue. It’s often used to help quiet the pain and inflammation during the acute phase of recovery.

What It’s Good For

Short-term inflammation relief
Targeted medication delivery without systemic side effects

Drawbacks

While it can be a helpful short-term tool, it doesn’t rebuild tendon tissue. Also, frequent use of corticosteroids can impair collagen healing and may weaken the tendon long-term. Think of it as a band-aid, not a rebuild.

4. TENS: Numbing the Noise

TENS units deliver small electrical impulses through pads placed around the knee. These impulses stimulate nerves and block pain signals, kind of like flipping off the “pain switch.”

What It’s Good For

Temporary pain relief
Supporting rehab by improving exercise tolerance

But Here’s the Catch

TENS doesn’t address the why. It can make you feel better, but it doesn’t do the work of healing or restoring tendon integrity. Use it wisely—don’t let relief delay your return to real recovery.

Why SoftWave Leads the Pack

If your goal is long-term healing and getting back to the movement you love—not just symptom management—SoftWave Therapy is the clear leader. It’s fast (10–15 min sessions), non-invasive, and research-backed. And most importantly, it works with your body, not against it.

At MOLO Therapy, SoftWave is just one part of our bigger system:

Treat the pain source
Train the system for resilience
Teach you how to move better than before

Your Next Step

Don’t wait until a sore knee becomes a sidelining injury. If you’ve been battling patellar tendon pain and nothing seems to work, it’s time to change your approach.