Knee tendinitis is best described as an injury of overuse. Constant stress placed on the tendon connecting the kneecap to the shinbone can lead to irritation and inflammation along this connective tissue. As a result, you begin to experience a sharp pain just below the knee. Any exercise that results in a great deal of impact on the legs can cause and even worsen this form of tendinitis.
Development
While anyone can develop knee tendinitis, it's most often seen in athletes, especially those involved in sports that require jumping or sprinting. The repeated impact placed on the legs as you push off into a jump or run can cause small tears to develop along the patellar tendon. These tears irritate and inflame the fibers, resulting in a sharp pain.
Symptoms
For most people, this pain is felt at the very beginning or soon after finishing a workout. It's also likely to increase in intensity as you increase the level of physical activity. As the injury progresses, however, the pain is no longer isolated to the start or completion of a workout. It isn't uncommon to suffer pain throughout the entire exercise until the pain is even present while at rest.
Exercise
One of the best things you can do for knee tendinitis is reduce the strain being placed on the injured tendon. If a given exercise places repetitive stress on the legs and causes subsequent pain, it should be avoided until corrective measures are put in place. Never work through the pain, warns MayoClinic.com. It could actually worsen the injury. This often means no jumping or running.
Treatment
Avoiding running and jumping doesn't necessarily suggest you should stop exercising altogether. It's still important to maintain your level of fitness while dealing with knee tendinitis. Instead, focus on low-impact activities that won't compound the issue. Swimming, biking and even walking can help you maintain your fitness level until the tendon is on the mend. Rest between low-impact exercises and ice and elevate the affected leg to aid in healing.
Therapy
Another important component to treating knee tendinitis is physical therapy. Weight-bearing exercises that build your quadriceps can help take the strain off of the patellar tendons as you jump or run. The same can be said for stretching exercises that focus on boosting the flexibility of the quadriceps. Always consult a doctor or physical therapist before engaging in exercise known to treat knee tendinitis. These medical professionals can help establish a workout routine appropriate to your injury and level of fitness. They can also provide suggestions for changing body mechanics to avoid re-injury.
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