Tendonitis Knee Information

Tendonitis refers to the inflammation of the tendon and tendonitis knee is in reference to the pain associated with the tendon of the knee. Tendonitis pain is often described as a sharp pain when arising from a chair or squatting. The pain is usually relieved with rest.

Tendonitis knee can occur mainly from overuse of the knee such as in the example of runners and weightlifters. In inflammation of the tendon at the front of the kneecap, this condition is referred to as ‘patellar tendonitis'. Inflammation of the tendons just above the front of the knee is termed as 'quadriceps tendonitis'.

 If the sufferer is unable to straighten the knee because of pain over the tendon area, seek medical treatment immediately. In any case of knee pain, it is always best to investigate further with a medical professional who may request an ultrasound scan and/or an MRI scan to be performed.

 

Most cases of tendonitis of the knee respond well to rest and/or physiotherapy although some cases may require cortisone or steroid injections.

In some cases where the symptoms may be severe or where previous treatments have failed, surgical treatment may become the next option to explore.

The human body has a complex mechanism to inform us when something is wrong. Humans tend to ignore these signals and thus can worsen the condition. It is important to stop rest and do something else. Avoid such activities as squatting, kneeling, heavy lifting, climbing, and definitely running when faced with knee pain symptoms.

Main treatments for tendonitis knee are oftern referred to the RICE method (Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevate).

·         Rest. Refrain from activities that caused the tendinitis and those that bring pain to the area. “The more you stress the tendon by running or heavy lifting will worsen the injury and will take longer to recover. Seriously stressing the tendon may even cause permanent damage that may not be reversible.

·         Ice. Apply ice that is wrapped in a towel for about 15 minutes once or twice daily. Applying ice helps reduce the swelling which in turn will lessen the pain and speed up healing of the tendon.

·         Compress. Bandaging the affected knee in an elastic knee bandage or knee support can help reduce swelling and ease knee pain. It also restricts mobility which helps in recovery.

·         Elevate. Occasionally lie down and elevate your knee on a pillow so that it’s higher than the level of your heart. This helps in blood flow and works to reduce swelling at the affected knee.