Causes and risk factors
Repeated stress, movements and Overuse of the joint cause injury to the tendon. Repeated injuries cause the tendon to tear leading to inflammation. It results in weakening of tendon.It is common in athletes or football, basketball, players.
Clinical presentation
Patellar tendinitis presents as Pain in knee, tenderness, swelling, redness, loss of movement, burning at the knee joint due to inflammation.
Investigation
Medical history by the patient and Clinical examination by the orthopaedic doctor helps in diagnosis. X ray of knee joint is done to confirm and rule out other causes. USG of knee joint, MRI may be done for further investigations.
Treatment
Doctor may advice rest, ice pack, stretching and strengthening exercises, use of patellar tendon straps. Medical treatment includes analgesics and NSAIDs to relieve from pain and reduce inflammation. Iontophoresis is useful in some cases. Corticosteroid injection, platelet rich plasma injections give instant relief from pain. If any of the above treatments do not work, gastrocnemius recession or debridement and repair surgery is the last resort. Good physiotherapy plan is advisable.
Other Modes of treatment
The other modes of treatment can also be effective in treating patellar tendinitis. Homoeopathy is a science which deals with individualization considers a person in a holistic way. This science can be helpful in combating the symptoms. Similarly the ayurvedic system of medicine which uses herbal medicines and synthetic derivates are also found to be effective in treating patellar tendinitis.
