Tendonitis in the Knee

19 Jun Tendonitis in the Knee

Patellar Tendonitis, also referred to as “jumper’s knee,” is a common injury to those who are constantly jumping and putting pressure on their knees. The patella connects your kneecap to your shin bone and can cause pain in the kneecap area leading to the front of the shin. While people who jump a lot tend to get this injury, it is also possible to get it from overuse of the knees and degeneration of the tissue.

If your knee hurts, you should know the signs and symptoms of patellar tendonitis. While sometimes this injury goes away without complications, if it is ignored and overused it can lead to increasing tears and injuries to the tendons and lead to an even more damaging injury. A Brooklyn orthopedist can diagnose and offer treatment for your knee pain before the pain turns into something worse.

Symptoms of Patellar Tendonitis

• The main symptom of tendonitis in the knee is a pain from the kneecap to the start of the shin
• The pain often starts slow and gradually increases in the intensity of time as the tears to the tendons increase
• Redness or swelling around the knee joints

If your symptoms seem to be worsening from just slight knee pain, you should see your Brooklyn orthopedist immediately to prevent damage to your already injured knee from furthering.

Prevention and Treatment

To prevent patellar tendonitis, you should always warm up before participating in sports and make sure that you include light leg strengthening exercises in your routine so that your muscles and tendons remain strong enough to sustain the pressures when jumping and running. If you notice you have pain in the knees, do not continue the activity that aggravates it. The aggravation is a sign that the activity is damaging and you should rest and ice the area for several days or even longer before attempting again. Stopping activity can help promote healing and prevent the injury from getting worse than it already is.  You may also need to replace your shoes if they are old and worn. Old shoes can be attributed to the wear and tear of our joints, and it is vital that you replace them at least once a year depending on your frequency of activeness.

Treatment for early onset patellar tendonitis typically includes rest, ice, medications, physical therapy, and injections to relieve pain. If the knee is substantially damaged without the possibility of self-repair, a Brooklyn orthopedist may recommend surgery to repair the damage to the tendons in the knee. Surgery is rare, but can sometimes be the only hope for pain relief.

Come Visit our Brooklyn Orthopedist

If you’ve suffered damage to your patella, Advanced Orthopedics & Joint Preservation can offer treatments to alleviate pain and offer advice and prevention treatments. Please feel free to contact our office with questions and to schedule an appointment if your patellar tendonitis is causing concern to you. Our Brooklyn orthopedist is always here to help and can allow you to continue the activities you love without pain.