Patellar Tendonitis
What is Patellar Tendonitis?
Patellar tendinitis, also known as jumper's knee, is an overuse injury of the tendon that runs over the front of the knee (stretching over the patellar or “knee” bone). Normally the very front of the knee is painful, particularly the bottom of knee.
Symptoms
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Pain and tenderness at the base of the knee cap.
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Swelling and burning in the knee cap.
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Pain made worse with jumping or running or after sitting.
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Localised pain over the patella tendon
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Onset of pain is usually gradual, with increased difficulty in performing over time.
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Stiffness experienced getting up in the morning
Causes
Repetitive use or excessive sport that puts a lot of stress on the patella tendon e.g jumping or impact sports like basketball, volleyball, soccer or long jump causes micro trauma, and tiny tears develop over time. These micro tears exceed the bodies healing ability and the body repair mechanism cannot keep up with the rate of injury, weakening and inflaming the tendon.
Pain can be experienced after gradual wear and tear of aging but is most commonly experienced as a result of an overuse injury causing inflammation or degeneration of the tendon.
Treatment
Patellar tendonitis is a common problem that can be successfully treated using focused soundwaves with ultrasound guidance during treatment, to stimulate a healing response. Patients will usually experience a gradual decrease in pain over a period of around 10 weeks following treatment.
We usually require an x-ray to have been performed prior to treatment. This is to check that there are no other bony or soft tissue problems that may be causing the pain.
Sources and Related Links
In-depth Information
The Patella tendon attaches at one end to the bottom of the Patella (knee cap) and the other end to the tibial tuberosity (shin bone) and works in conjunction with the muscles to straighten and bend the knee.
Pain can be experienced after gradual wear and tear of aging but is most commonly experienced as a result of an overuse injury causing inflammation or degeneration of the tendon.
