Knee tendinitis, also called patellar tendinitis, occurs when there is an inflammation of the tendon that connects your kneecap or patella bone to your shinbone. This tendon helps your knee move in many directions. The Mayo Clinic states that while anyone can get this condition, you are at a higher risk for knee tendinitis if you participate in activities such as basketball, soccer or volleyball that require repetitive jumping. If you are diagnosed with knee tendinitis, your doctor will probably prescribe a course of physical therapy to help you manage your symptoms.
Identification
According to the American Physical Therapy Association, physical therapists are trained to diagnose, evaluate and treat a variety of conditions, such as knee tendinitis. He can watch how you move and use your knee joint, palpate the area to determine sections that may be more tender and administer modalities to help bring your symptoms under control. A physical therapist will work with you one on one to assess the damage to the knee and then help you return to an active lifestyle.
Modalities
A physical therapist is licensed to treat you with modalities such as ultrasound, traction and hand-on manipulation and massage, all of which can help to reduce the pain and inflammation in your knee. In addition, you may be taught how to use a brace or strap to take pressure off the painful tendon so you can be somewhat active while healing. The therapist can also instruct you in the proper use of ice and or heat to help the tendon heal.
Benefits
Your physical therapist will also teach you proper body mechanics and how to participate in daily activities and sports without re injuring the tendon. The Mayo Clinic states that a "physical therapist can help you learn to better distribute the force you exert during physical activity. For instance, an athlete who jumps frequently might learn proper takeoff and landing techniques." Chances are your injury was the result of excessive force on the tendon. If you do not change the way you use your body, the injury will just keep coming back.
Significance
Another important component of physical therapy is learning the proper exercises and stretches to help your knee tendinitis heal and to prevent re-injury. You will need to develop a lifetime program that strengthens the muscles around the kneecap to help take pressure off the joint and the tendon. You will also need to develop a safe stretching program, because overly tight muscles and tendons are prone to injury. This is especially true in a joint that can move in as many directions as your knee.
Considerations
According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, "exercise puts repetitive stress on many parts of the body such as muscles, tendons, bursae, cartilage, bones and nerves. Repetitive stress can lead to micro-traumas, minor injuries that would typically heal with enough rest. When you exercise too frequently, your body never has a chance to repair micro-traumas. As micro-traumas build up over time, you become prone to overuse injuries, such as...kneecap (patellar) tendinitis..." If this happens, working with a physical therapist can help you to get back on track.
