Tendons are strong cords of tissue that connect muscles to bones. The knee has a major tendon called the "patellar tendon," which is where the connection is made between the shinbone and kneecap. Tendonitis develops in the knee when there is repetitive pressure and stress placed on the patellar tendon. This is often seen in athletes who are constantly running and jumping. The knee becomes inflamed, pain develops and flexibility can be compromised. Treatments for knee tendonitis involve conventional and home remedies.
Step 1
Avoid stressful activities. You can continue exercising and being active, just avoid actions that place a lot of stress on your knees like running and jumping. Do non-impact exercises instead such as elliptical training, swimming, walking and rowing.
Step 2
Reduce swelling and pain with ice. Place water into a foam cup and put it in the freezer. When you experience pain in your knee, hold the cup on it for 15-20 minutes. You can also wrap a towel around a bag of ice and use that instead.
Step 3
Wear a strap. A patellar tendon strap can be worn to direct the force away from your tendon and into the strap. This can help reduce pain without cutting the circulation off in your leg.
Step 4
Go for a massage. Massage therapists use their fingers, knuckles and hands to work out knots and relieve pain in the soft tissue of the body. To promote healing, get your patellar tendon massaged.
Step 5
See a physical therapist about exercises. Specific exercises can help strengthen the patellar tendon and nearby muscles such as the quads. Eccentric strengthening, where you lower a weight really slowly, is a type of training that is often recommended.
Step 6
Loosen up tight muscles. When the muscles around the knee are tight, this can cause more stress on the tendon. Do stretches that target the quads, hamstrings, calves and the anterior tibialis, which runs down the front of the shin.
Step 7
Have surgery. If all else fails and you experience pain for several months, look into surgery. A surgeon will remove damaged parts of your tendon and repair any tears that occurred.
