What is Patellar Tendonitis?
Patellar tendonitis, also known as jumper’s knee, is an injury to the patella (the tendon that shinbone to the kneecap.) Learn symptoms, causes, treatment and more for this knee injury.
Why is Patellar Tendonitis Called Jumper’s Knee?
Patellar tendonitis is called jumping often is one of the main causes of this injury. Jumping forcefully can strain the patellar tendon. When jumping is repeated often, the tendon can become inflamed and eventually lead to patellar tendonitis.
What are the Symptoms of Patellar Tendonitis?
Knee pain is a common symptom of patellar tendonitis. Other symptoms may include:
- Swelling
- Tenderness near the patellar tendon
- Pain with knee movement
- Pain when walking, jumping, or running
What Causes Patellar Tendonitis?
Patellar tendinitis is caused by overuse. This injury often occurs in athletes whose sports involve jumping often, but anyone can develop the condition.
Risk Factors
There are numerous factors that may increase someone’s risk for developing patellar tendonitis. People who are very active, especially runners, are more at risk for developing this injury. Additionally, people with imbalanced leg muscles or autoimmune diseases are at higher risk.
What is the Treatment for Patellar Tendonitis?
If you think you may have patellar tendonitis, do not fret. There are many conservative treatment options! A knee specialist may recommend:
- RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation)
- Over-the-counter pain medication
- Activity modification
- Physical therapy
If conservative treatment does not alleviate symptoms, talk to your knee doctor about surgical options.
Is Patellar Tendonitis Preventable?
Patellar tendonitis isn’t always preventable, but there are measures that can be taken to reduce the risk of developing the condition:
- Stretch before and after athletic activities
- Warm up before you workout or play a sport
- If you start to feel knee pain, take a break so that it doesn’t lead to injury
Seek Help from a Knee Specialist Near You
If you are experiencing patellar tendonitis symptoms, or general knee pain, seek help from an orthopedic surgeon specializing in the knee.
At Elite Sports Medicine + Orthopedics we have numerous knee specialists who treat patients in Nashville, Franklin, and Brentwood, TN.
Additionally, we have a team of in-house physical therapists over at MPOWER Physical Therapy. Not only can you get help from one of our knee specialists, but you can also get referred to work with a physical therapist in the same building!
Call us or request an appointment online to rid knee pain for good.
Author: AMWN Dev
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