Patellar tendinitis

Diagnosis

The following could help the healthcare provider diagnose patellar tendinitis:

• Physical examination: During the examination, the healthcare provider may apply pressure on the knee to evaluate the area of pain. The front of the knee just behind the kneecap is usually where patellar tendinitis causes pain. They will also assess the range of motion by having patients move their knee slowly in various directions.
• Imaging tests: The doctor may recommend one or more of the following imaging test to diagnose the issue:
  • X-rays: This test helps to rule out any other bone issues that may contribute to knee pain.
  • Ultrasound: This test uses sound waves to create an image of the knee that shows patellar tendon tears.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): This test uses a magnetic field and radio waves to produce detailed images that can detect small changes in the patellar tendon.

Treatment

Treatments for patellar tendinitis focus on relieving discomfort and strengthening the knee’s soft tissues. The healthcare professional will suggest to start out with conservative therapies such as resting. The following steps can be sufficient to ease the pain in minor circumstances.

• Home management: The RICE method (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) may help reducing the symptoms.
• Medications: Over-the-counter painkillers ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, etc.) or naproxen sodium (Aleve, etc.) may provide temporary relief from the discomfort caused by patellar tendinitis.
• Physical therapy: The symptoms of patellar tendinitis can be improved using a range of physical therapy treatments, such as:
  • Stretching activities: Regular, continuous stretching activities can extend the muscle-tendon unit and help minimize muscle spasm.
  • Strengthening activities: Activities that build all of the leg muscles at once, like a leg push, as well as exercises that slowly drop the leg after it was extended, might be beneficial.
  • Patellar tendon strap: This method reduces pain by applying pressure on the patellar tendon. A strap can help distribute force that travels through the strap rather than the tendon.
  • Iontophoresis: A corticosteroid medication is applied to your skin during this therapy, and the medication is then pushed through your skin by a device that delivers a weak electrical charge.
• Surgery: The doctor may recommend additional therapies therapies if non-surgical treatment are ineffective, such as:
  • Corticosteroid: The patellar tendon sheath can be injected with corticosteroids under ultrasound guidance to help with pain management. These substances, however, can potentially degrade tendons and increase the risk of tendon rupture.
  • Platelet-rich plasma injection: Patients with severe patellar tendon issues have attempted this kind of treatment. The injections are expected to help in the healing of damaged tendons by encouraging the growth of new tissue.
  • Oscillating needle: A healthcare provider uses ultrasound to guide a small, oscillating needle in removing the diseased area of a tendon while leaving the healthy tendon tissue intact. Local anesthesia is used during this procedure.
  • Surgery. If imaging test show a tendon tear, the doctor may advise surgery to repair the damaged tissue. If non-surgical treatment fail to relieve symptoms, surgical debridement of the patellar tendon may be recommended. Small incisions around the knee may be used for some treatments.