Severe knee strain, or patellar tendonitis

Patellar tendonitis is an inflammation of a joint or tendon that causes swelling and redness in the knee area on the outside. Tendons look like thick, fibrous ropes that connect bones and muscles. Patellar tendonitis can cause weakness and pain in and around the joint or tendon. Patellar tendonitis can easily be confused with a sprained ligament or tendon.

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Why does knee tendonitis occur?

Knee tendonitis is a consequence of not taking care of yourself and getting injured frequently. It occurs when the knee tendons are subjected to repeated stress from overuse. The stress causes tiny tears in the tendons, which your body tries to repair. But as the tendon tears become more numerous, they cause pain due to inflammation and weakening of the tendon structure. The tendon pain persists for several weeks or more.

A combination of factors that lead to pain may contribute to the development of knee tendinitis, including:

1. Intensity and frequency of physical activity.
2. A sudden increase in the intensity of physical activity or an increase in the frequency of training, which places additional stress on the tendon.
3. Tight, stiff leg muscles: When the flexibility of the thigh muscles (quadriceps) decreases, the hamstrings, which are located at the back of the thighs, can increase the stress on the knee tendons.
4. Muscle imbalances. If some leg muscles are much stronger than others, the stronger muscles can do the work for them and put more stress on your knee tendons. This uneven distribution can lead to tendonitis.

Who gets knee tendonitis?

Patellar tendonitis can be the result of an injury that affects the tendon or ligament of the kneecap. Tendonitis plays a major role in how you use your leg muscles.

Patellar tendonitis is the most common condition among athletes, caused by frequent jumping, such as basketball and volleyball. For this reason, patellar tendonitis is commonly known as "bad knee."

However, even people who do not participate in any sports may experience symptoms of tendonitis.

For most people, treatment for knee tendinitis begins with physical therapy to stretch and strengthen the muscles around the knee.

Symptoms of Tendinitis

Pain is the first sign of knee overuse and subsequent tendinitis.

The pain typically radiates from your knee tendons between your kneecap and the area where the tendon supports your shin.

• Knee pain can:
• Be present only at the beginning of physical activity or after intense training
• Progresses before you increase the load
• Eventually, climbing stairs or simply getting up from a chair will become an impossible task for you because of the pain.

Complications of knee tendonitis

If you try to work through the pain, ignoring the warning signs your body is sending you, you can cause severe knee tendon tears. Knee pain can get worse if the factors that contributed to the knee tendonitis continue to work. You can then move into a chronic overuse condition.

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Preparing for a meeting with a traumatologist

If you have knee pain during or after physical activity that does not improve with rest and ice packs, you should see a traumatologist. After an initial examination, your doctor may refer you to a sports medicine specialist or a specialist with advanced training in musculoskeletal care.

What You Can Do Before Your Doctor's Appointment

Think back and list any knee pain symptoms you've had and write down how long they lasted.

Give your doctor information about all the diseases you have and all the medications you are taking.

Think back to your daily activities, including the duration and intensity of your sports training or other exercises.

Your doctor will also want to know if you've recently changed the frequency, intensity, or methods of your exercise.

Think about whether you have had any recent injuries that could have damaged your knee joint.

Write down questions you want to ask your doctor. Creating a list of questions in advance can save you a lot of time - both yours and your doctor's.

If you have any additional questions during your visit to the clinic, do not hesitate to ask.

Sample list of questions for a traumatologist

What do you think was the most likely cause of my knee pain?

Are there any other possible causes of pain?

Are any tests needed to confirm the diagnosis?

What treatment would you recommend?

Will I be able to return to my current sports after treatment?

How long will it take me to take a break from sports?

What exercises can I continue to do during treatment?

What precautions should I take?

What is the likelihood that I will need surgery?

How often will we meet to monitor progress in treatment?

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What questions to expect from the doctor

Your doctor will likely ask you a number of questions. Being prepared to answer them will save time in getting started with treatment. Here are some things your doctor may ask during your exam:

1. What are your symptoms?
2. When did you first notice these symptoms?
3. Is your pain getting worse?
4. How severe is your knee pain? Is it strong, mild?
5. Does your knee pain bother you before, during or after your workouts - or is it a constant pain?
6. Is the pain related to knee swelling, knee motion locking, or is it unstable?
7. What is your regular exercise and sports training regimen?
8. Can you perform your exercises at the same level or is it difficult?
9. Do you have symptoms that affect your ability to perform common tasks: climbing stairs, sitting in a chair, walking down stairs?
10. Have you tried self-medication at home? If so, what remedies helped alleviate the condition?
11. Have you had any recent injuries that could have led to your knee being in its current condition?
12. What diseases have you been diagnosed with?
13. What medications are you currently taking, including vitamins and supplements?

Tests and Diagnosis of Tendinitis

During the examination, your doctor may apply pressure to different parts of your knee to pinpoint where you are experiencing pain. Pain associated with knee tendonitis is typically concentrated in the front of the knee, just below the kneecap.

The diagnostic physician may also suggest one or more of the following diagnostic tests:

X-rays: These may not always show the condition of your knee tendons, but they can help rule out other bone problems that could be causing your knee pain.

Ultrasound: This test uses sound waves to create an image of your knee, showing exactly where the tendons in your knee are torn.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create images that are more detailed than ultrasound images. MRI can show more subtle changes in the knee tendons.

When to see a doctor?

See your doctor if your pain:

• Doesn't stop or gets worse
• Affects your ability to perform routine daily activities
• Accompanied by swelling of the knee or redness - or both

Treatments and medications for tendonitis

Doctors typically start with less invasive procedures before considering other options, such as surgery.

Medicines

Pain relievers such as ibuprofen or naproxen may provide temporary relief from pain associated with knee tendonitis.

Therapy

A variety of physical therapy techniques can help reduce symptoms associated with knee tendonitis, including:

Stretching exercises: Regular, consistent stretching exercises can help reduce muscle spasm and help lengthen muscles and tendons.

Strengthening exercises. Weak hip muscles can put extra strain on your knee tendons. Strengthening exercises for weak hip muscles can help solve this problem and also reduce the symptoms of knee tendonitis pain.

Knee Tendon Strap. The strap will apply pressure to your knee tendons. This can help distribute the forces to the areas around the tendon. This can help relieve pain.

Iontophoresis: This therapy involves distributing corticosteroids through the skin using mild electrical currents.

Surgical and other procedures

If conservative treatment methods do not help, the traumatologist may suggest other treatment methods, such as:

Corticosteroid injections. Based on the ultrasound results, corticosteroid injections are given around the knee tendon. This can help relieve knee pain. But these types of medications can also weaken the tendons and make them more susceptible to tearing.

Platelet-rich plasma injections. Platelet-rich plasma injections have been tested in patients with chronic knee tendon pain. Research in this area is ongoing. Experts suggest that these injections promote new tissue formation and help heal the damaged tendon.

Surgery: If conservative approaches do not help after many months of treatment, in rare cases, your doctor may suggest surgery for the knee tendon. Some of these surgeries may be performed through small incisions around the knee.

Lifestyle and Home Remedies

If you know you have knee tendonitis, consider the following approaches to relieve pain at home:

Pain relievers: Medications such as ibuprofen and naproxen can provide temporary relief from pain associated with knee tendonitis.

Avoid activities that cause pain. This may mean temporarily switching to lighter sports. Do not try to work through pain, as this can damage the knee tendons.

Ice. Apply ice after physical activity that causes pain. Put the ice in a plastic bag, wrap the bag in a towel. Or try an ice massage.

Preventing tendonitis

To reduce your risk of developing knee tendonitis, follow these steps:

Don't play sports through pain. As soon as you notice that exercise is causing knee pain, take a break and apply ice to the painful area while you rest. While your knee is resting, avoid activities that put stress on your knee tendons.

Strengthen your muscles. Strong thigh muscles are better able to cope with the types of physical stress that can cause strain and, as a result, tendonitis. Exercises that reduce the load on your legs are especially helpful.

Improve your movement technique. If your exercise technique is flawed, you may be setting yourself up for problems with overloading your knee tendons.

Consider taking lessons from a professional when you begin practicing a new sport or using exercise equipment.