WHAT IS IT? PATELLAR TENDONITIS / PATELLAR TENDINOPATHY
Patellar tendinopathy in the past has been frequently referred to as Jumper’s Knee or Tendonitis. It involves degeneration of the patellar tendon, a process termed tendinosis. The patellar tendon attaches from the patella to the tibial tuberosity.
Signs and symptoms
- Pain and tenderness below the patella (specifically where the tendon attaches to the inferior pole of the patella).
- Aggravated by jumping, hopping, changing direction, and squatting
- Pain occurs at the beginning of exercise, decreases with warming-up, and return post-exercise.
- Possible wasting of quadriceps muscles
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​WHAT CAUSES IT?
- Tightness in quadriceps and hamstrings
- Abnormal biomechanics
- Increased pronation
- Weakness of the calves
HOW TO SELF MANAGE
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Ice
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Activity/training modification
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Increasing stretching of leg muscles (quads, hamstrings, calves)
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Strengthen lower limb muscles (quads, glutes, calves)
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Trial a patellar strap to decrease the load on the tendon.
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See a physiotherapist for further assessment and an eccentric loading program.
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PROGNOSIS
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Return to sport time varies between 3-12 months depending on how chronic the injury is.
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Ultrasound or MRI investigation may be used for diagnosis purposes.
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Surgery is an option, whereby scraping of the tendon can significantly reduce sensitivity.
HOW PHYSIO HELPS?
- Assess the patellar tendon to determine if it is the source of pain
- Biomechanical review
- Muscle imbalance correction
- Eccentric loading program for the patellar tendon
- Prescription of a brace to offload the patellar tendon
- Deep transverse frictions
- Stretching of hamstrings, calves, ITB, and calf muscles
- Strengthening of quadriceps, glutes and gastrocs.
- Neural mobilisation
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