Knee pain due to injury can greatly reduce a person’s quality of life. Even simple day to day movements can cause a lot of discomfort to the person affected. In this article, we’ll explore one such knee injury known as Patellar Tendinitis.
What is Patellar Tendinitis?
Patellar tendinitis, also known as jumper’s knee, is a painful knee condition that is characterised by inflammation of the patellar tendon. This is the tendon that connects the kneecap to the shin bone. It’s referred to as an injury caused by overuse. Manifesting as localized patellar tendon pain and tendon tears occur as a result of sustained stress on the patellar or quadriceps tendons.
This kind of injury is most commonly seen among elite athletes who participate in sports that require intensive jumping such as basketball, volleyball and track and field events like the long or high jump. Hence the term Jumper’s knee.
Symptoms of Patellar Tendinitis
In terms of signs or symptoms of patellar tendinitis to look out for, individuals with this knee injury can feel pain when:
· Jumping
· Running
· Walking
· Climbing stairs
· Squatting
· Sitting for extended periods of time
Moreover, a person can also experience pain in activities that require prolonged flexion of the knee, often referred to as the "Movie Theatre sign." This term is used to easily explain the discomfort holding such a position for long periods of time can have on individuals with knee injury pain. As the seating in a cinema often leaves little space to stretch the leg - you are forced to remain seated with a flexed knee for the course of a movie.
Load Related Pain
Another characteristic of patellar tendinitis is that it generally causes pain to individuals suffering from this injury when they perform tasks that need the patellar tendon to store and release energy. What this means is that pain increases and decreases in proportion to the demand being put on the knee extensors.
Treatments for Patellar Tendinitis
Fortunately, there are many treatment options available for patellar tendinitis that can greatly reduce the pain suffered. And with proper treatment, lasting damage to the knee can be avoided. The first step of course, is to rest the injured knee and avoid any activities that cause stress to this area.
The combination of rest and an effective rehabilitation plan can help get you back up on your feet. Some such methods include the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids, surgeries, strengthening exercises and tendon neuroplastic training.
One of the safest and most effective treatment options is the use of shockwave therapy.
Shockwave Therapy for Patellar Tendonitis
Shockwave Therapy is a non-invasive procedure that is proven to be the best modality for mobility restoration and fast pain relief. It also eliminates the risk of infection and tendon rupture. The way shockwave therapy works is that it uses powerful acoustic pulses to induce microtraumas to the tissue in the affected area.
This microtrauma initiates a healing response by the body. The healing response causes blood vessel formation and increased delivery of nutrients to the affected area. A person will notice visible improvements in their body’s natural healing process due to increased blood flow to the affected area.
The process of shockwave therapy is extremely quick and straightforward. As it is non-invasive, no needles or anaesthetics are required. Which means you can do a session and continue with your normal daily routine without disruption. The benefits are noticeable as soon as the next day. Plus, there’s no risk of discomfort, swelling, or bruising, (which are common side effects of many other treatment methods).
Final Words on Patellar Tendinitis & Shockwave Treatment.
If you are experiencing pain due to patellar tendinitis and would like to begin shockwave therapy or explore your other treatment options - book your consultation at the GB Sports Physiotherapy clinic today!