Patellar tendonitis, also known as jumper’s knee, is an irritation of the patellar tendon. It is mainly caused by prolonged overloading of the knee. Athletes who strain the knee through sudden twisting movements, rapid changes of direction or jumps and subsequent hard landings are particularly frequently affected.
In many cases, patellar tendinopathy can be successfully treated conservatively. However, if left untreated, patellar tendinopathy will in most cases sooner or later lead to severe, persistent pain, resulting in long breaks in training and exercise.
The experts in sports orthopaedics at ECOM® specialise in the treatment of knee conditions such as patellar tendinopathy and are renowned nationally and internationally for quickly restoring movement and sporting ability following a sports injury.
Patients affected by patellar tendinopathy may experience the following symptoms:
– The affected tendon may be thicker than the unaffected tendon
– There may be slight swelling around the painful area
– The affected part of the patellar tendon is sensitive to pain and pressure during movement or at rest
– There is pain on palpation on the lower and front of the kneecap
– Pain or feelings of stiffness occur after movement and strain
– Pain occurs when tensing the quadriceps muscles
– When remaining in the same static position (sitting and standing) for a longer period of time, the urge to move arises
In medical terms, the patellar tendon, also known as the kneecap tendon, is not a tendon at all. This is because tendons connect muscles and bones. However, as the patellar tendon runs from the kneecap to the shin bone, it connects bone to bone and therefore strictly speaking belongs to the group of ligaments. The patellar tendon lies directly under the skin and can be felt with the hand.
The main function of the patellar tendon is to transfer force from the thigh to the lower leg. The patellar tendon is exposed to heavy loads, especially during sporting activity. Sudden stop-and-go movements, for example in tennis, rapid changes of direction, such as in football, or jumps and hard landings in basketball or gymnastics put a strain on the knee and the patellar tendon. If the tendon at the base of the kneecap becomes irritated, we refer to this as patellar tendinitis.
The symptoms of patellar tendinopathy vary and can occur in just one knee or in both knees. In most cases, the symptoms initially only occur when the patellar tendon is under (sporting) strain and disappear again after the warm-up phase. If the inflammation of the patellar tendon is more advanced, the pain only disappears after the end of exercise. In extreme cases, the pain remains permanent and is even noticeable during minor everyday activities.
The discomfort and pain associated with patellar tendinopathy can be divided into 4 degrees of severity, which occur after and during physical or sporting activity:
– Grade 1: Pain only after sporting activity
– Grade 2: Pain before and after sporting activity, but less after warming up
– Grade 3: Permanent pain, both during sporting and everyday activity,
– Grade 4: The patellar tendon is torn, extension of the knee joint is no longer possible without assistance
In most cases, patellar tendinopathy can be successfully treated conservatively. Only when all conservative options have been exhausted and there is no healing success is surgery for patellar tendinopathy considered. Various causes can be remedied in this case. If the patellar tendon is already torn, patellar tendon surgery is recommended in all cases.
In most cases, patellar tendinopathy can be successfully treated conservatively. Only when all conservative options have been exhausted and there is no healing success is surgery for patellar tendinopathy considered. Various causes can be remedied in this case. If the patellar tendon is already torn, patellar tendon surgery is always recommended.
If all conservative therapies fail, patellar tendinopathy can be treated surgically in order to restore freedom from symptoms and the ability to play sports. The operation is usually performed using minimally invasive arthroscopy. The inflamed parts of the tendon are often removed during surgery for patellar tendinopathy. In order to prevent re-inflammation, individual tendon parts or entire tendons can be detached. After the operation, consistent follow-up treatment supports the success of the therapy for rapid regeneration and return to everyday (sports) life.
Patellar tendon rupture is a rare disease of the patellar tendon. It refers to a tear in the tendon that connects the kneecap to the shinbone. The patellar tendon generally tears on the underside of the kneecap. Frequent triggers are sports accidents while skiing or playing tennis. In most cases, however, a patellar tendon rupture is caused by a patellar tendon that has been damaged by previous illnesses.
A patellar tendon rupture occurs when degenerative processes have permanently damaged the patellar tendon. A patellar tendon rupture in a completely healthy tendon occurs very rarely. A healthy patellar tendon can usually withstand strain well. In the event of a patellar tendon rupture, patients feel a cracking sensation accompanied by pain and swelling. As a result, patients can no longer straighten their knee, have difficulty lifting their leg off the ground and can no longer walk.
In most cases, a torn patellar tendon is treated surgically, as torn structures on the patellar tendon can only heal on their own to a very small extent. A new tendon is usually inserted by arthroscopy; this can be an endogenous tendon from the leg, for example.
Extreme forces act on the knee joint during jumping, turning and stopping movements such as those involved in sports like volleyball, basketball, long jump, high jump, tennis and football. If chronic pain occurs at the lower pole of the kneecap, the patella tip, due to overloading, we refer to this as patella tip syndrome.
There are both external and internal factors that can cause jumper’s knee syndrome. The factors can occur independently of each other or influence each other.
We define external factors as all physical and sporting activities that directly influence patellar tendinopathy. These include, in particular, sports in which the knee is strained by jumping, turning and stopping movements, resulting in chronic inflammation of the patellar tendon. The frequency and intensity of the strain as well as unaccustomed strain (new sport, beginner) play an important role here.
We refer to all influencing variables that cannot be influenced by behaviour as internal factors. These include the patient’s age, an elevated kneecap (patella alta), a history of Osgood-Schlatter disease, shortened, hardened leg muscles with reduced elasticity of the leg muscles, congenital ligament weakness (ligament laxity), misalignment of the limbs (knock knees and bow legs) and obesity.
Specialist in orthopaedics, sports medicine
„Die innovativen, minimalinvasiven Methoden wie zum Beispiel Arthroskopie bei Patellaspitzensyndrom machen Patienten schnell wieder fit.“
Specialist in orthopaedics and trauma surgery
Specialist in orthopaedic surgery
“The patient is often in a state of emergency. Targeted diagnosis and individualised therapy are the key to successful treatment”.
Do you have questions about treatment and therapy for patellar tendinopathy or a patellar tendon rupture? Our experts Dr Erich Rembeck and Dr Alexander Rauch will be happy to provide you with detailed information and advice in a personal consultation. Simply make an appointment. We look forward to seeing you.
Sehr geehrte Besucher,
Sie verlassen nun den Internetauftritt der ECOM® – Praxis für Orthopädie, Sportmedizin und Unfallchirurgie Dr. Erich Rembeck, Dr. Alexander Rauch, Prof. Dr. Hans Gollwitzer, Prof. Dr. Patrick Weber – Ärztepartnerschaft aus München.
Sie werden weitergeleitet auf den Internetauftritt von ECOM – Zentrum für Regenerative Medizin und Stammzelltherapie Dr. Erich Rembeck, Dr. Alexander Rauch, Prof. Dr. Hans Gollwitzer, Prof. Dr. Patrick Weber in Thiersee, Österreich.
Die im folgenden beschriebenen Therapien finden ausschließlich in Österreich statt und sind von der Ärztekammer Tirol, sowie der Österreichische Agentur für Gesundheit und Ernährungssicherheit (AGES) genehmigt.
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