Patellar tendinitis, also known as jumper's knee, is a common overuse injury that occurs in the patellar tendon, which connects the kneecap (patella) to the shinbone (tibia).
This condition is typically caused by repetitive jumping, running, or other activities that put a lot of stress on the patellar tendon.
Patellar Tendinitis is a common cause of pain that is on the front of your knee.
Patellar tendinitis is characterized by pain or a dull ache on the front of the knee just under the knee cap and stiffness that makes it hard to straighten out your knee.
Certain activities like squatting or walking down stairs might make the pain worse. Patellar tendinitis may be a minor ache or it could be quite severe.
If left untreated, Patellar Tendinitis tends to get worse and can become debilitating. In rare cases, the patellar tendon can even rupture, requiring surgery to repair the injury.
So what can be done about Patellar Tendinitis?
The old adage of R.I.C.E. (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) is still good advice for patellar tendinitis and if caught early enough may very well be just the answer to get over knee pain and get you back into the action.
For cases of Plantar Fasciitis that don’t respond to R.I.C.E., the good news is that there is a relatively new treatment that seems to be safe and effective for treating people suffering from Plantar Fasciitis.
Shockwave therapy is a treatment option for patellar tendinitis. This therapy uses high-energy sound waves to stimulate healing and reduce pain in the affected area. During the treatment, a device called a shockwave generator is placed on the skin over the affected tendon.
The device then sends high-energy sound waves through the skin and into the tissue, which can help to decrease pain and inflammation, increase blood flow and stimulate the body's natural healing process.
Treatments only take about 15-20 minutes, there is no down time, and it generally only takes 3-5 weekly treatments before you start to get some good relief.
Research has shown that shockwave therapy can be an effective treatment option for patellar tendinitis. In one study, patients who received shockwave therapy had significantly greater improvement in pain and function compared to those who received a placebo treatment.
Shockwave Therapy is one of the modalities that we have added to our clinic so that we can help more people with more types of painful problems.
If you so someone you know is dealing with knee pain and that knee pain is having a negative impact on your quality of life, contact us so that we can get you back to doing the things that make you happy.
God Bless,
Dr. Tim
This information should not be substituted for medical or chiropractic advice. Any and all health care concerns, decisions, and actions must be done through the advice and counsel of a health care professional who is familiar with your updated medical history.
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