Treatments For Patellar Tendonitis
Patellar tendonitis is a common type of tendonitis often referred to as jumper's knee. Individuals who regularly engage in sports like volleyball and basketball that require them to jump constantly are at a higher risk of developing patellar tendonitis. However, this injury is also possible among individuals who don't participate in sports with consistent jumping. This injury occurs when the tendon that extends from the shinbone to the kneecap becomes damaged. The tendon itself is essential for jumping, kicking, and running, which is why an injury to the area can greatly affect an individual's mobility. Pain from patellar tendonitis worsens over time, which is why it's imperative to obtain treatment for the injury. Get to know the options for treating patellar tendonitis now.
Physical Therapy
Most patellar tendonitis injuries are somewhat minor in severity and can be healed entirely with the application of physical therapy. There is a range of physical therapy techniques patients can use to reduce the symptoms of patellar tendonitis. The most common forms of physical therapy used to treat this injury include strength and stretching exercises. When patients wish to perform some strength exercises that will directly target the patellar tendon, they should be sure to focus on exercises that strengthen the leg muscles. Leg press machines are particularly effective at increasing the strength of thigh muscles, which helps heal the affected tendon. Regular stretches can move the patellar tendon and encourage healing in the area. These exercises will also reduce the amount of spasms patients experience while waiting for the injury to fully heal. This therapy can also include the usage of a patellar tendon strap and iontophoresis, the latter of which uses a small electrical charge to push a corticosteroid medication through the skin.
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Medication For Pain And Inflammation
Patients with patellar tendonitis will likely be prescribed at least one medication for pain and inflammation. If left untreated, the pain from patellar tendonitis will continue to worsen until every movement patients make brings about a wince. The pain worsens primarily because the inflammation around the injured tendon also worsens. Higher amounts of inflammation mean patients experience more pain as well. While further treatments may be necessary to permanently repair the injured tendon, medications for pain and inflammation will reduce these symptoms while patients wait for the rest of the tendon to heal properly. The two types of pain relievers most commonly prescribed for patellar tendonitis are naproxen sodium and ibuprofen, though any anti-inflammatory medication should also provide relief.
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Hyperthermia Thermotherapy
Hyperthermia thermotherapy is a unique treatment that's also relatively new when it comes to being used to treat patellar tendonitis. This treatment is a combination of two different types of treatments in hyperthermia and thermotherapy, and the former is regularly used for the treatment of cancer. As for thermotherapy, this refers to the application of heat to induce healing in the injured tendon. By directly increasing the temperature to the skin above the tendon, blood flow will improve, causing an acceleration of tissue healing while also providing a variety of additional benefits.
While a variety of items and devices can provide a patient's injured tendon with thermotherapy, likely the most effective option is through hyperthermia. This treatment will expose a portion of the affected skin to temperatures reaching as high as 113 degrees Fahrenheit. The application of high amounts of heat promotes healing around the affected tendon without damaging the skin or other tissues. Before obtaining this treatment, patients should make sure their doctor has had experience with it, since they'll want to avoid the blisters and burns that occur when the temperature is too high.
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Surgical Treatment
Surgical treatments for patellar tendonitis are only used in the rare instance the other treatment methods were ineffective at promoting healing. All surgeries aimed at treating patellar tendonitis are primarily centered around surgical debridement, which removes any of the unhealthy tissue surrounding the wound. Once the tissue has been removed, the healing process should progress much more rapidly and smoothly.
Traditional surgeries for patellar tendonitis open up the knee completely to get to the tendon and repair it. However, this has a lengthy recovery time that may require patients to wear a cast for a month or so following the treatment. Modern surgical techniques used for patellar tendonitis include arthroscopic surgery, which is a much simpler procedure involving the placement of four tiny incisions in the knee. Since the incisions are small, the recovery is notably shorter than other surgeries used for patellar tendonitis.
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Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection
If patients don't want to undergo surgery for patellar tendonitis but have not yet had success with any of the other treatments on this list, they may want to consider a platelet-rich plasma injection. Platelets help with clotting and are found directly in the blood. However, platelet levels can vary from person to person. Since platelets help with wound healing, it's believed placing more platelets directly into an individual's bloodstream will help treat patellar tendonitis. Although this is a relatively new treatment with ongoing studies, it comes with minimal risks. If it works as it should, the introduction of high amounts of platelets into the patient's body should increase tissue formation while at the same time healing the tendon damage. The platelet-rich plasma mixture contains a small amount of the patient's blood, which is drawn before the injection is applied. The injection will likely be placed directly into a muscle surrounding the tendon.