Patellar tendinitis, also known as jumper's knee, can be a mild to severe injury that normally occurs in athletes. Recovery can take up to a few weeks to a few months for mild cases. Those who have a severe injury that requires surgery may take up to a year.
Patellar Tendinitis
Tendinitis is the inflammation of the tendons, reports MayoClinic.com. Tendinitis in the knee is called patellar tendinitis. The patellar tendon connects to the knee cap, also known as the patella to the shin bone and allows a person to flex and extend his lower leg. Patellar tendinitis, most often occurs in athletes who play basketball, soccer or volleyball--anything that involves a lot of jumping. Frequent jumping can irritate the patellar tendon and cause it to become inflamed.
Signs and Symptoms
Signs and symptoms can include aching and stiffness after activity, a sharp pain at the front or bottom of the knee, especially when pressure is applied. The pain can be present during or after a workout and during the night. Other signs and symptoms reported by the Sports Injury Clinic include weakness in the calf muscle and swelling of the knee. People with patellar tendinitis may have pain and difficulty going up and down stairs.
Diagnosis of Tendinitis
The doctor may be able to diagnose patellar tendinitis by applying pressure to the injured knee to find where the pain is coming from. According to the MayoClinic.com, an ultrasound of the knee may also be done to examine the inside of the knee for any tears in the tendons. A magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI may be done to provide a more descriptive picture of the tendons in the knee.
Grades of Tendinitis
Once the diagnosis of patellar tendonitis has been made, then the doctor will give the injury a grade. According to the Sports Injury Clinic, there are four grades. A grade one occurs where there is pain only after activity. A grade two occurs where there is pain before and after activity and the pain goes away once the knee has warmed up. A grade three occurs when a person's performance is hindered by the pain. A grade four occurs when a person experiences pain during everyday activities.
Treatment
Conservative treatment will be attempted before surgery is considered. According to the MayoClinic.com, the doctor will recommend that a person avoid running and jumping and other activities that cause pain. The doctor will recommend performing stretches, wearing a patellar strap to help distribute stress away from the tendon, going to physical therapy, and possibly getting cortisone injections to help relieve pain and inflammation. Surgery will be considered after twelve months if conservative treatment is not working.
