Patella Tendonitis: A Painful Condition To Overcome

Tendonitis is a painful condition in which the joints and tendons begin to swell and become red or inflamed. This can occur in many different parts of the body, mostly areas that are often in use and sometimes even overused or strained. Wrists, shoulders, knees and other parts are often the most commonly affected areas with which doctors see patients directly.

Yet, another type of tendonitis can also have a painful and debilitating effect; patella tendonitis. This form of tendonitis affects the patella, which is where the shin and the knee bone connect. This condition is often referred to as “Jumper’s Knee” as well, because it often occurs with sports-related injuries such as basketball. With proper care, patella tendonitis can be treated and help can be readily available to alleviate pain and symptoms.

What Can I Do To Treat Patella Tendonitis?

The first treatment for patella tendonitis sounds too simple to be true. It is simply rest. The knee needs a rest from strained and stressful activity, such as jumping or running. If you have been used to doing these things daily, you must stop for now in order for the inflammation to be reduced and heal. Rest is so important, yet many feel that they simply don’t have time to rest, so they continue to go on like before, living with the pain until it becomes unbearable. At that time, other stronger methods of treatment must be employed, such as NSAIDS, which can help reduce pain and inflammation as well.

Stretching exercises are very good to help recover from patella tendonitis and should be used regularly to help prevent further injuries down the road. Hamstrings, calves and quadriceps can be stretched daily to help relax the legs and joints. Physical therapy may be necessary, depending on the severity of the patella tendonitis. Creams and salves can work wonders for relieving the pain and symptoms of this condition as well. Ice packs are often used as well to help with short-term symptoms such as swelling. Over the longer term, addressing the inflammatory issue is important with adjusting one’s diet and getting proper rest and exercise to maintain optimal health. While over-the-counter remedies can be helpful in the short term, they are not a good choice for long periods of time. More natural remedies such as increasing calcium and magnesium intake are a good way to treat patella tendonitis over the longer term.

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