Patellar tendinopathy: some aspects of basic science and clinical management.

Tendon injuries account for a substantial proportion of overuse injuries in sports. Despite the morbidity associated with patellar tendinopathy in athletes, management is far from scientifically based. After highlighting some aspects of clinically relevant basic science, we aim to (a) review studies of patellar tendon pathology that explain why the condition can become chronic, (b) summarise the clinical features and describe recent advances in the investigation of this condition, and (c) outline conservative and surgical treatment options.