What the descent costs you.
Most people try rest, a sleeve from the pharmacy, whatever the standard advice recommends first. Some help for a day or two. None of them change the patellar tendon loading angle.
Every movement that bends your knee deeper forces your patellar tendon to absorb force at an angle it was not built to sustain repeatedly. That load does not reset. It accumulates at the same attachment point. What you notice after a long session today is what decides your limits tomorrow.
