Tendonitis in the Knee
Knee tendonitis is the most common type of knee pain. Your knee is supported by four tendons and any of these can be affected. Tendonitis in the knee can result from a sudden injury or develop over time due to overuse and repetitive motion. It's most common in middle-aged runners because the tendons become more brittle and easily torn as you age.
Other athletes who are involved in kicking, running and jumping sports are also susceptible. Tiny tears in your tendons occur with these activities and over time become inflamed. If ignored, these tiny tears can lead to larger tears and chronic conditions.
Your sports medicine doctor in Midtown Manhattan offers a range of treatments, as well as early care for conditions that lead to tendonitis, including:
- Meniscus tear
- Knee ligament tear
- Bursitis
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Risk Factors for Tendonitis in the Knee
Though anyone can develop knee tendonitis; certain individuals are more susceptible. If pain or other symptoms occur, assess what changes you might have recently implemented and adjust accordingly. You may experience pain in your knees if you:
- Play sports that require significant running and jumping such as basketball, volleyball, football, track events, tennis or snow skiing
- Implement sudden changes in your training schedule or regimen
- Change running shoes
- Have tight leg muscles
- Have a muscular imbalance from some muscles being significantly stronger than others
Symptoms of Tendonitis of the Knee
Knee pain results from multiple issues. Describing your symptoms and their history helps your specialist prescribe the best course of knee tendonitis treatment. Symptoms may include any combination of:
Pain on the sides, front or underneath your kneecap
Pain that's first present only as you begin or finish an intense activity
Pain that worsens to the point of interfering with your everyday activities
Tenderness and swelling on or around your kneecap
Please see your doctor right away if the pain continues or worsens over time, interferes with your daily activity or is associated with swelling, warmth or redness of the joint along with fever. It's the best way to avoid future complications.
Before Treatment for Tendonitis in the Knee
Your specialist assesses your pain, swelling and range of motion during a physical exam. He takes a detailed medical history to see what activities led to your symptoms. He may use x-rays if he suspects bone damage.
If your pain lasts for longer than two weeks, your doctor may order other imaging tests such as a computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Occasionally, electromyograms are used to test for nerve damage.
Ready to find relief from knee tendonitis?
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Treatment for Tendonitis in the Knee
Most instances of knee tendonitis resolve with the least invasive techniques. Your doctor starts with the most conservative treatments. Knee tendonitis treatments include:
- Rest
- Avoiding any triggering activity
- Ice for 20 minutes, every three to four hours to reduce swelling and numb the pain
- Over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen and naproxen sodium
- Physical therapy that includes stretching and strengthening exercises, especially for your thighs
- Patellar tendon strap that applies pressure to the tendon and distributes force away from it
- Prescription pain medicines
- Elastic wraps for support and warmth
- Braces for stability
- Shockwave therapy
- Warm compresses for 20 minutes every three to four hours encourages blood flow and facilitates healing, if your pain has lasted longer than two weeks
- Corticosteroid injections, although they're used sparingly, as they can weaken the tendons and cause them to rupture
- Deep friction massage to relieve tight muscles
- As a last resort, arthroscopic surgery to repair damaged tendons
Knee surgery takes anywhere from eight weeks to six months for recovery as it usually includes physical therapy for rehabilitation. No matter which therapy you choose, you should always ease slowly back into your normal activities to ensure the healing process isn't interrupted or set back.
Prevention of Knee Tendonitis
To either prevent the occurrence of tendonitis in the knee or keep it from returning, some simple preventive steps make all the difference:
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Dr. Febin Melepura, MD
Double Board-Certified Pain Specialist
Meet Dr. Febin Melepura: Your Knee Tendonitis Specialist in NYC
Dr. Febin Melepura, MD is a double board-certified interventional pain management specialist and the founder of the Sports Pain Institute of New York. He completed his residency and fellowship training at New York Presbyterian Hospital / Columbia University Medical Center, one of the nation's leading academic medical centers.
He holds dual board certifications from the American Board of Anesthesiology and the American Board of Pain Medicine, and has treated more than 7,500 patients and performed over 5,250 procedures throughout his career. He has been named a Top Pain Management Doctor in New York and one of America's Top Doctors™ by Castle Connolly.
Dr. Melepura's approach to knee tendonitis is rooted in precision: identify the exact source, treat it with a targeted injection, and get you back to your daily life as quickly as possible.
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