Patellar tendonitis is a common injury in athletes and people who practice impact sports, as it is related to constant pressure on the patellar tendon.
It is important to take into account certain guidelines to avoid the appearance of this injury, which can directly affect the patient's quality of life.
What is patellar tendonitis and what are its causes?
lPatellar tendonitis is an injury to the patellar tendon, which is the one that connects the kneecap to the tibia. This tendon has a fundamental function in the extension movement of the knee.
It is a very common injury in athletes and is also known as “jumper's knee.” The cause is usually related to repetitive stress on the patellar tendon, which eventually causes tears and weakening of the tendon.
Other causes are related to a muscle imbalance in the joint. The appearance of patellar tendonitis is also common in patients with autoimmune or metabolic diseases, or those with kidney failure, since this type of pathology interrupts blood flow to the knee.
Symptoms of patellar tendonitis
The symptoms of patellar tendinitis usually manifest themselves as intense pain in the knee that, especially, appears after exerting effort or playing sports. However, it is common for the pain to worsen and appear during daily activities, such as going up or down stairs. Which can be disabling for the patient.
This pain is usually accompanied by joint stiffness or weakness, which extends along the leg.
Types of patellar tendonitis
Depending on the characteristics of the injury, different types of patellar tendinitis can be differentiated: first, tproximal patellar tendon endinopathy. In this case, the tendon fibers suffer wear, usually due to excessive friction or overload.
Secondly, there is the tendinopathy of the distal patellar tendon, which is characterized by the existence of calcifications close to the tibia.
Lastly, one can differentiate the tendon neovascularization. In this case, changes occur close to the tendon, creating micro-vessels and nerve fibers, which cause pain.
Diagnosis of patellar tendonitis
For a correct diagnosis of patellar tendonitis, first of all a study of the patient's medical history will have to be done, in which special attention is paid to episodes of pain in the patellar tendon.
Next, a physical examination will be performed, in which we will observe where the pain is located and try to palpate whether or not there are calcifications.
In many cases, it will be necessary to perform diagnostic imaging tests that provide more detailed information, for example, ultrasounds or magnetic resonance imaging.
Treatment of patellar tendonitis
In the case of patellar tendonitis, it is important that the treatment is appropriate for each patient, to prevent the injury from becoming chronic, directly affecting the patient's daily activities.
First of all, anti-inflammatories are usually prescribed and the application of ice to the area is recommended. Knee physiotherapy treatment is usually recommended, through which stretching exercises, which will reduce muscle spasms and strengthening exercises, which will make the muscles stronger and, in this way, the tension on the patellar tendon will be reduced.
In recent times, innovative treatments have been launched in sports clinics in Madrid, for example, intra- and peritendinous infiltrations of corticosteroids, which reduce inflammation around the tendon. In addition, stem cell infiltrations are being carried out, which prevent the formation of neovascularizers.
The sports medicine rehabilitation It has made a lot of progress in recent years, being very important when it comes to treating the most common sports injuries. Our sports medicine center in Madrid offers ultrasound rehabilitation without side effects in most cases, the latter being very mild and easy to recover from. Our doctors specializing in sports medicine in Madrid will treat your pathology in a personalized way with a prior diagnosis, with continued sports medical check-ups until a successful recovery. In addition, you can also enjoy the services of a sports doctor in the 24-hour medical emergencies of the Quirón San José Hospital in Madrid.
In some cases, it is necessary to perform surgery, which is generally performed by knee arthroscopy with very small incisions, which is why they are considered minimally invasive surgeries. In this type of surgery, tendon adhesions are released, which relieves the patient's pain.
Tips to prevent patellar tendonitis
To prevent patellar tendonitis, it is important to keep track of your body weight, since the greater your body weight, the patellar tendon will have to withstand more pressure, which will increase the risk of tearing.
In addition, it is important to perform strengthening exercises that keep the joint strengthened and, in this way, avoid excessive pressure on the tendon. Regular practice of low-impact sports is recommended.
If pain appears when performing movements with the knee, It is important to go to a specialist to study the injury.
As has been seen, it is important to go to a professional if pain appears in the area, to prevent patellar tendonitis from becoming chronic. An early diagnosis will avoid the application of more aggressive treatments, which require a longer recovery time.
