Quadriceps tendinitis often affects athletes, like volleyball and basketball players. However, any active person can develop this injury. The risk is higher if you suddenly increase your physical activity.

The quadriceps tendon attaches the quadriceps muscle — located on the upper part of the front side of your leg — to your knee cap (patella).

The tendon helps straighten the knee and allows you to walk, jump, and climb stairs. Quadriceps tendinitis occurs when this tendon becomes inflamed.

Quadriceps tendinitis is sometimes spelled as tendonitis, or it’s called quadriceps tendinopathy.

Research suggests that quadriceps tendinitis affects up to 2 in 100 athletes. Those who jump a lot, such as basketball and volleyball players, are at greater risk.

Keep reading to learn more about the causes, symptoms, and treatments for quadriceps tendinitis.

The most common symptom of quadriceps tendinitis is anterior knee pain, which affects the front of the knee, just above the kneecap. Usually, the pain is dull and gradually increases over time.

The pain typically worsens when the knee is in a flexed position, such as when sitting down, jumping, or squatting.

In some people, the pain might go away during activity and return when movement stops.

Other symptoms of quadriceps tendinitis may include:

The most common cause of quadriceps tendinitis is overuse, which occurs when the tendon repeatedly moves in a specific way or holds heavy loads. Over time, this leads to small tears and degeneration.

Normally, your body tries to fix these tears. But if you continue repeating the same movement, more tears will develop.

Some repeated actions that may cause quadriceps tendinitis include:

  • playing sports
  • suddenly increasing physical activity
  • walking with an awkward gait, such as due to leg length discrepancy

It’s also possible to develop quadriceps tendinitis from a single event. For instance, you can injure the tendon if you jump and land awkwardly on a fully extended leg.

Any active person could get quadriceps tendinitis, but the risk is higher in athletes, especially if you:

  • run on hard surfaces
  • play jumping sports, like volleyball and basketball
  • exercise without warming up
  • exercise without enough recovery time
  • repeatedly squat or kneel

Other risk factors may include:

  • being taller
  • having a heavier body weight
  • having weaker or tight hamstrings and quadriceps
  • having joint or bone alignment problems, such as one leg longer than the other

A healthcare professional, such as an orthopedist or primary care sports medicine doctor, may use various tests to diagnose quadriceps tendinitis.

They’ll typically start with a physical examination to check for symptoms like swelling and tenderness and to test the range of motion and pain. They may also ask you questions about your symptoms and the type, frequency, and intensity of physical activity you may do.

A doctor may also order imaging tests like MRI and ultrasound to get detailed images of your knee tendons

After a doctor determines the severity of your injury, they’ll create a personalized treatment plan. This usually involves a combination of methods.

Nonsurgical treatment

Treatment typically starts with conservative methods. This involves nonsurgical treatments, which may include:

If these treatments don’t work, a doctor may suggest local corticosteroid injections into the tendon to help relieve inflammation. A 2022 review found that platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections may be more effective for quadriceps tendinitis, but more research is needed.

Quadriceps tendon surgical repair

Most people with quadriceps tendinitis don’t need surgery. But if nonsurgical treatments don’t work, or if your injury is severe, you might need surgical repair.

During surgery, a surgeon will remove the damaged portion of your tendon. Surgical options include the following procedures:

  • arthroscopic surgery, which uses small incisions, a tiny video camera, and mini surgical instruments
  • open surgery, which involves a single large incision
  • percutaneous ultrasonic tendon debridement, which uses ultrasonic energy to remove damaged tissue

Quadriceps tendinitis recovery depends on various factors, including your:

  • age
  • overall health
  • severity of injury
  • treatment plan

With nonsurgical treatment, mild tendinitis usually gets better in a few weeks. You can slowly return to physical activity at this point.

However, if you need surgery, recovery will most likely take a few months. Research suggests that most people who receive surgery for quadriceps tendinitis can return to athletic activity after 6 months.

What can be mistaken for quadriceps tendonitis?

Quadriceps tendonitis is sometimes mistaken for patellar tendinopathy, also known as “jumper’s knee.”

However, a 2019 review notes that patellar and quadriceps tendinopathy are separate conditions that may coexist. The quadriceps tendon connects muscle to bone and causes pain at the top of the patella. The patellar tendon connects bone to bone and causes pain at the bottom of the patella.

Is walking good for quadricep tendonitis?

Walking may help increase blood flow and prevent leg stiffness if you have quadriceps tendinitis. However, if you experience pain while walking, consider resting, cycling, or using an assistive device like a knee brace to take some weight off of the injured tendon.

Quadriceps tendinitis affects the tendon that connects the quadriceps muscle and the knee cap.

While anyone can get quadriceps tendinitis, athletes have a higher risk. The repeated movements of jumping, running, and squatting can inflame the quadriceps tendon.

Quadriceps tendinitis often gets better within several weeks. For best results, get lots of rest and consider working with a physical therapist to develop an exercise program for you.