Exercise Therapy for Patellar Tendinopathy Evaluated With Advanced UTE-MRI

The intervention treatment is a progressive 4-stage criteria-based exercise protocol within the limits of pain, consisting of progressive isometric, isotonic, plyometric, and sport-specific exercises.24 Progression criteria are individualized.

The control treatment is a painful heavy-load eccentric exercise program performed twice daily with 3 sets of 15 repetitions for 12 weeks on a 25° decline board. The downward component (eccentric component) will be performed with the symptomatic leg and the upward component (concentric phase) on the asymptomatic leg.