Patellar tendonitis
The Injuries Behind Patellar tendonitis
By Orthopaedic and Neurology Clinic
What is define by Patellar tendonitis?
Patellar tendonitis is a common injury or inflammation of the tendon that connects your kneecap (patella) to your shinbone (tibia). Your pain may be mild or severe.
Anyone can get patellar tendonitis. But it’s such a frequent injury of athletes, especially those who play volleyball and basketball, that it’s called jumper’s knee.
What are some symptoms of Patellar tendonitis?
Following are the most common symptoms of jumper’s knee. However, you may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:
- Pain and tenderness around your patellar tendon
- Swelling
- Pain with jumping, running, or walking
- Knee pain when bending or straightening your leg
- Tenderness behind the lower part of your kneecap
The symptoms of jumper’s knee may resemble other conditions or medical problems. See our healthcare provider for a diagnosis.
“Patellar tendonitis develops gradually. The condition becomes more severe each time the tendon is overstressed, so it is essential to rest the knee after each injury.”
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What types of diagnosis?
Our Specialist will physically examine your knee, probe for where you feel pain, and test your range of knee motion by bending and extending your leg.
Our doctor may also order imaging tests to look at your kneecap and tendon to determine if there’s any damage to the tendon or bone. These tests can also help rule out other possible causes of your pain, such as a fracture.
Our doctor may perform:
- an X-ray to look at the bone to determine whether you have a kneecap fracture or if your kneecap is displaced
- an MRI to look at the tendon and show any damage to the soft tissue
- an ultrasound to look at the tendon and show any soft tissue damage
Possible treatment methods?
Treatment for patellar tendonitis is usually focused on pain reduction. A person will need to rest the affected leg, apply ice to the area, and take anti-inflammatory medication.
Further treatment will depend on the injury, a person’s age, and how active they are. Small or partial tears can often be treated with rest and gentle exercises.
Our Specialist may suggest wearing a knee brace to keep the knee straight and help the tendon to heal.
A person should wear the brace for 3 to 6 weeks and may need to use crutches to support their weight.
Physical therapy can help to gradually restore movement as the tendon heals. Our physical therapist may also recommend strengthening and stretching exercises to do at home.
A complete tear may require surgery, to reattach the tendon to the kneecap. Complete recovery may take 6 months.
