Knee tendinitis, also known as patellar tendinitis or knee jumping, is an inflammation of the patellar tendon in the knee that causes severe pain in the knee area, especially when walking or exercising.
Knee tendinitis is generally more common in football, tennis, basketball or runners, for example, due to excessive use of the extender muscles (back thigh) to jump and run; however, tendinitis can also occur in elderly patients due to progressive joint wear and tear.
Rotular tendinitis can be classified as follows
Knee tendinitis can be cured by resting and applying ice, however, when these measures are not enough, it is recommended to start physiotherapy sessions to strengthen the knee muscles, relieve pain and improve mobility.
The main symptoms of patellar tendonitis can include:
When the patient develops these symptoms, he or she should consult a physical therapist or orthopedic surgeon for diagnostic tests, such as x-rays, ultrasounds, or MRIs, to confirm tendinitis and to initiate appropriate treatment.
Treatment for knee tendinitis can be started at home by resting the affected leg, placing an elastic band on the knee and applying ice for 15 minutes 3 times a day, for example.However, if the pain does not go away within 10 to 15 days, it is important to consult an orthopedic surgeon to start taking pain relievers and anti-inflammatory, such as ibuprofen or naproxen, to reduce inflammation and relieve pain.
Physical therapy sessions are also recommended to use electrotherapy devices and perform stretching and strengthening exercises, which speed up the healing process of the affected tendon.
In more severe cases, where knee tendinitis does not go away with rest, medication, and physical therapy after about 3 months, surgery may be needed to repair the damage to the knee tendon, but this is not usually necessary.physiotherapy achieves excellent results.
Find out how physical therapy and nutrition can be helpful in treating tendinitis:
Electrotherapeutic equipment such as laser and ultrasound are recommended to relieve pain and tissue regeneration.It is necessary to strengthen the muscles of the entire leg, but especially the muscles of the anterior thigh, being still important the general exercises of stretching the legs, to maintain a good balance between the forces during the day to day.See some of the exercises in: Knee Propioception Exercises.
The mobilization of the patella is very important so that it can move freely on the joint, preventing it from being “sticking”, making movement difficult.
Learn more about this problem and learn more about other causes of knee pain: knee pain