Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Bones of the Lower Limb: Femur and Patella

Bones of the Lower Limb: Femur and Patella

The femur is the body's longest and strongest bone spanning the thigh region. Its head articulates with the acetabulum of the hip bone to form the hip joint. A minor indentation on the medial side of the femoral head, called the fovea capitis, serves as the site of attachment for the ligament of the head of the femur. This weak ligament spans the femur and acetabulum and supports the hip joint. The narrowed region below the head is the neck of the femur. The inclination angle between the...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Cognitive-behavioural treatment for neck pain.

The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·2026

Same author

The Prognosis of Disabling Musculoskeletal Pain and Predictors of Recovery in Children.

The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy·2026

Same author

Musculoskeletal Pain Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Telesurvey.

Physiotherapy Canada. Physiotherapie Canada·2026

Same author

A review of the measurement properties of disability measures used in children and adolescents with musculoskeletal pain: a clinimetric review.

Musculoskeletal science & practice·2026

Same author

Physical activity promotion in clinical practice: a cross-sectional survey of Brazilian physical therapists.

Journal of bodywork and movement therapies·2026

Same author

Screening practices for financial abuse of older people at a large metropolitan hospital: a qualitative study of health professionals.

BMC health services research·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 15, 2025

Author Spotlight: Integrating Mechanical and Biological Analysis in Tendinopathy Research

Author Spotlight: Integrating Mechanical and Biological Analysis in Tendinopathy Research

Published on: March 1, 2024

Exercise for patellar tendinopathy.

Alexandre D Lopes¹, Rodrigo Rn Rizzo^2,3, Luiz Hespanhol⁴

¹Department of Physical Therapy, Movement and Rehabilitation Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

|May 27, 2025

Summary

This study found very uncertain evidence regarding the effectiveness of strengthening exercises for patellar tendinopathy pain and function compared to no treatment or surgery. Exercise may offer little difference in function or pain versus glucocorticoid injections.

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Effectiveness of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy in Achilles Tendinopathy Treatment

Author Spotlight: Effectiveness of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy in Achilles Tendinopathy Treatment

Published on: August 2, 2024

Evaluation of Stem Cell Therapies in a Bilateral Patellar Tendon Injury Model in Rats

Evaluation of Stem Cell Therapies in a Bilateral Patellar Tendon Injury Model in Rats

Published on: March 30, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 15, 2025

Author Spotlight: Integrating Mechanical and Biological Analysis in Tendinopathy Research

Author Spotlight: Integrating Mechanical and Biological Analysis in Tendinopathy Research

Published on: March 1, 2024

Author Spotlight: Effectiveness of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy in Achilles Tendinopathy Treatment

Author Spotlight: Effectiveness of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy in Achilles Tendinopathy Treatment

Published on: August 2, 2024

Evaluation of Stem Cell Therapies in a Bilateral Patellar Tendon Injury Model in Rats

Evaluation of Stem Cell Therapies in a Bilateral Patellar Tendon Injury Model in Rats

Published on: March 30, 2018

Area of Science:

Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
Rehabilitation Science
Clinical Trials Research

Background:

Patellar tendinopathy, a common cause of anterior knee pain, is often treated with exercise, particularly eccentric loading.
Existing treatments include various exercise modalities, glucocorticoid injections, and surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the benefits and harms of strengthening exercises for treating patellar tendinopathy.

Main Methods:

A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted, searching major databases up to September 2023.
Included RCTs compared strengthening exercises against no treatment, usual care, glucocorticoid injection, or surgery.
Data on pain, function, treatment success, quality of life, and return to sport were extracted and analyzed.

Main Results:

Evidence is very uncertain regarding the effect of strengthening exercise on pain compared to no treatment.
Strengthening exercise may show little difference in function compared to no treatment or glucocorticoid injections.
Comparisons with surgery show very uncertain effects on pain and function, with low-certainty evidence for treatment success and return to sport.

Conclusions:

The certainty of evidence for strengthening exercises in treating patellar tendinopathy is low to very low across comparisons.
Further high-quality RCTs are needed to establish definitive benefits and harms, especially for non-athlete populations.
Current evidence suggests exercise may offer similar outcomes to other interventions but with considerable uncertainty.