Embrace Gradual Load for Tendon Health

Athletes often face patellar tendon pain due to a lack of proper loading and progression in their training. Many mistakenly oscillate between two extremes: playing intensively or complete rest. This binary view often leads to underloading, where the tendon and associated muscles are not sufficiently stressed. Consequently, rehabilitation programs tend to lean too heavily on rest rather than integrating effective loading strategies, which can hinder recovery. A focus on graded exposure to load is crucial for preparing the body for demanding activities, emphasizing the need for balanced training that conditions the tendons and structures involved.