Diagnosis

During the exam, your doctor may apply pressure to parts of your knee to determine where you hurt. Usually, pain from patellar tendinitis is on the front part of your knee, just below your kneecap.

Imaging tests

Your doctor may suggest one or more of the following imaging tests:

• X-rays. X-rays help to exclude other bone problems that can cause knee pain.
• Ultrasound. This test uses sound waves to create an image of your knee, revealing tears in your patellar tendon.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed images that can reveal subtle changes in the patellar tendon.