Patellar Tendonitis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

WHAT IS PATELLAR TENDONITIS & HOW IS IT CAUSED?

Your patella “knee cap” is a small bone that connects your thigh to your lower leg. It helps you extend your leg and plays an important role in activities like kicking, running, and jumping.

Patellar Tendonitis (Jumper’s knee or Runners Knee) is caused by inflammation of the tendon that connects your kneecap (patella) to your shinbone (tibia). This condition is very common in athletes, especially in sports such as volleyball and basketball that require lots of jumping.

Many other common causes of jumper’s knee include:

  • Tight leg muscles

  • Uneven leg muscle strength

  • Obesity

  • Misaligned feet, ankles, & legs

  • Poor footwear

  • Hard playing surfaces

  • Chronic diseases that weaken tendons

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF PATELLAR TENDONITIS?

The most common symptoms of patellar tendonitis is knee pain and swelling between the kneecap and the shinbone. This pain is most likely to start at the beginning of a workout or after an exercise session. Left untreated, it typically worsens over time and can interfere with daily activities like walking up stairs and getting up from sitting,.

TREATMENTS FOR PATELLAR TENDONITIS

Jumper’s knee can worsen if not treated. A physician may prescribe over the counter pain relievers, a patellar tendon strap, or cortisone injections. In severe cases surgery can be recommended, but this is rare. You will be required to spend as much time off of your knee as possible to let your knee heal.

Generally, patellar tendonitis can be resolved in about 6 weeks with appropriate care. However, full recovery can take weeks to months. Over time and physical therapy, pain will subside, stiffness will decrease, and your performance will improve.

Some treatments for patellar tendonitis include:

  • Warming up and cooling down before and after activity.

  • Wearing appropriate footwear for your sport.

  • Foam rolling your quadriceps, shins, calves, and hamstrings.

  • Massage & soft tissue therapy.

  • Icing when necessary

HOW PROACTIVE HEALTH CAN HELP:

PATELLAR TENDONITIS DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, AND PAIN RELIEF

Proactive Health providers are experts in diagnosing the root cause of pain and dysfunction. Our doctors will guide you through a full body functional movement assessment which is designed to uncover movement issues that may be contributing or causing your pain. Our main treatments for patella tendonitis are hands on manual therapy combined with targeted rehab exercises focused on restoring proper function to your body. We strive to provide you with the tools and resources to manage your pain, so you can get back to living your active, awesome life!

If you’re experiencing jumper’s knee, don’t wait. Call us at (423)779-3295 or click the button below to get started.