PATELLAR TENDINITIS This injury includes chronic damage and inflammation in tendon fibers located at the bottom of your patella. Stress from the quadriceps muscle group is concentrated at this point. The most common cause of patellar tendonitis is repetitive micro-trauma to the tendon during activities which involve prolonged running or repetitive jumping. Physical exam by a qualified physician is often sufficient to diagnose patellar tendonitis. In severe cases an MRI may be ordered to determine the extent of the inflammation and the health of the tendon. SYMPTOMS Typical symptoms include pain at the bottom of your patella, which is made worse with activities such as running or jumping. In more severe cases, an area of swelling and tenderness is apparent. Weakness of the associated quadriceps muscle group is an unfavorable sign. RECOMMENDATIONS Standard treatment options include: • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication for 1 to 2 months • Application of ice to the sore area • Application of a knee sleeve or pressure band to alleviate pain (in some cases) • Stretching both your hamstring and quadriceps muscle groups; • Wearing shoes that provide good support and cushioning; avoid standing or walking on hard surfaces if possible and wearing high heeled shoes • Modifying your activities to reduce stress on the patellar tendon such as minimizing running and jumping; kneeling should be avoided. • Physical therapy for stretching exercises and symptomatic treatment • A micro-perforation technique, which uses multiple perforations to the tendon with a needle tip as recommended by your doctor. This procedure may stimulate a spontaneous healing response; however, avoid cortisone injections to this site as they typically weaken tissue and may lead to greater damage such as rupture of the tendon. • Minor surgery, for cases that have been resistant to treatment for six months to a year, to remove the dead and inflamed tissue • Patience! Unfortunately, improvement in this condition is almost always very gradual and can take 3-12 months.
Posted on: Tue, 24 Sep 2013 20:43:02 +0000
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