Patellar Tendonitis
July 10, 2007
What is Patellar Tendonitis?
The kneecap and the shin bone are both connected together. The tendon that connects the kneecap and the shin bone together is called the patellar tendon. The part of the knee that this is called is the ‘extensor mechanism’. This is part of the knee and together with the quadriceps muscle and the quadriceps tendons, it allows our knee’s to stretch out, and it also provides us with strength to do this motion.
The nutrition that your tendon needs in the patellar is important. The patellar tendon is made of hard string-like bands, which are bounded by a vascular tissue lining and this provides the tendon with the nutrition they need.What causes patellar tendonitis?
As with most tendons in our body, there are many ways in which we can damage our tendons. The most common and easiest to get is when the tendon and tissues around the tendon, become inflamed and start to aggravate you. Because the patellar tendon is in our knee, there is a more likely chance that you could get tendonitis. The several ways in which you could get patellar tendonitis are due to overusing the knee and shin. This could be from doing jumping activities, for example, high jump or long jump, where you could land quite badly on your feet or knees. If you get patellar tendonitis from a jumping activity it is referred to as jumper’s knee. Another way would be if you were doing football and you get a kick on the kneecap or land badly on it and it could make it inflamed. If you have patellar tendonitis because of overuse of the tendon, patients usually are an active partaker in jumping activates such as basketball and volleyball. Jumping activities are not the only way you can get patellar tendonitis, but many people who actively take part in jumping activities, also got patellar tendonitis as well.
The cures for the tendonitis are just like any other type of tendonitis. Lots of rest and don’t put much pressure on the knee until you feel it is strong enough to be used again. A local anesthetic can be used to take pain out of the tendon for around 24-72 hours but natural recovery is often the most effective way to get back on your feet again in no time.
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Excellent decription of symptoms etc.
Now i understand my knee a lot better!!!
I walk 3 miles daily in the beach!! about one hour( minimum time )of exercising.Some times more.I have been doing it for 5 years.
Maybe overusing the knee,in addition to my age(60),put strain in my knee. i have been searching the internet and i think this is my diagnostic:patellar tendonitis.It got inflamed with mild ache and discomfort in the left side of the knee(close to the patella) and in the back ,when i sit for a certain time.
Rested for a month.ice, Ben Gay,Aleve and Glucosamine vitamins (daily)
Finally beginning to feel better and started exercising carefully but very glad!!!!
Thank you very much!!!! Keep up the good work!!