Patellar tendinitis is a common injury caused by overusing the patellar tendon in the knee. Physical therapy can help reduce pain, make the knee work better, and avoid more injury. This blog post will discuss how physical therapy can treat patellar tendinitis and share exercises to relieve symptoms.
What is Patellar Tendinitis?
The patellar tendon connects the kneecap to the shinbone. When this tendon gets used too much, it can get swollen and cause a condition called patellar tendinitis. This problem often happens to athletes who do sports with a lot of jumping, like basketball, volleyball, and high jump.
Patellar tendinitis causes symptoms like pain in the front of the knee, especially when bending or straightening the leg. It can also make your knee swollen, stiff, and tender. If you don’t get treatment for patellar tendinitis, it can cause long-lasting pain and make it hard to do everyday things.
Role of Physical Therapy in Treating Patellar Tendinitis
Physical therapy is really important in treating patellar tendinitis. The main aim of physical therapy is to make the pain less, increase how much you can move your knee, and make the muscles around your knee stronger so you don’t get hurt again. Your physical therapist will create a special plan just for you, depending on how bad your problem is and what you need.
Rest and reduce inflammation with ice packs, compression wraps, and NSAIDs to reduce pain and swelling in patellar tendinitis.
Once the pain and swelling have subsided, your physical therapist will begin a series of exercises to improve flexibility and strength. These exercises may include:
Stretching exercises – to improve flexibility in the muscles and tendons around the knee joint.
Strengthening exercises – to improve the strength and endurance of the quadriceps, hamstrings, and calf muscles.
Eccentric exercises – these exercises focus on lengthening the muscle while it is under tension, which can be helpful for strengthening the patellar tendon.
Plyometric exercises – these exercises involve quick, explosive movements that can help improve power and agility in the knee joint.
Balance and coordination exercises – these exercises can help improve the stability of the knee joint and prevent further injury.
It is important to follow your physical therapist’s instructions carefully and progress through the exercises at a pace that is comfortable for you. Overdoing it or pushing yourself too hard can lead to further injury and setbacks in your recovery.
Conclusion
Patellar tendinitis can be painful and make people feel annoyed, but physical therapy can help them feel better. A physical therapist will make a special plan for you and give you exercises to do, such as stretching, strengthening, eccentric, plyometric, and balance and coordination exercises. By following this plan, you can get back to doing everyday things and playing sports that you enjoy.
If you have patellar tendinitis and it’s bothering you, don’t wait. Call Kinito Physical Therapy now and make an appointment with our skilled physical therapists. Our team will make a special plan just for you to help with your pain, make your knee work better, and get you back to doing the things you enjoy. Don’t let patellar tendinitis stop you anymore. Start getting better by taking the first step and visiting Kinito Physical Therapy today.
