Mitch, an active 29-year-old football referee and gymgoer, came to us with long-standing pain at the front of his left knee.
The pain had been building over several months and was flaring up during refereeing duties, particularly with deceleration, cutting, and landing. It was starting to affect his confidence, performance, and training.
Initial assessment pointed to patellar tendinopathy, aggravated by poor glute strength and movement control. Mitch responded well to a progressive rehab plan that focused on strength, load management, and return-to-play principles — but his symptoms plateaued.
Further imaging revealed a bone spur on the underside of his patella, causing mechanical irritation of the tendon.
This insight helped us refine the diagnosis to patellar tendon impingement. With this new information, we incorporated targeted treatment including:
Dry needling the deep fibres of the patella tendon
Blood flow restriction training for the quads
Knee joint mobilisations
Over time, Mitch returned to refereeing at a high level, resumed gym training, and even began playing futsal again.
He was discharged with a full rehab plan, confident in managing his symptoms and building his strength further.
Takeaway:
Tendon pain can be persistent — but with the right diagnosis, progressive rehab, and a team-based approach, it’s absolutely manageable.