Definition:
Patellar tendinitis is an injury that affects the tendon connecting your kneecap (patella) to your shinbone.
The patellar tendon has a pivotal role in the way you use your legs. It helps your muscles extend your lower leg
so that someone can kick a ball, push the pedals on your bicycle and jump up in the air.
Diagnosis:
Physical exam may apply pressure to different parts of your knee to determine exactly where you're experiencing
pain.
Ultrasound test uses sound waves to create an image of your knee, revealing the location of tears in your patellar
tendon.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create images that are more detailed
than ultrasound images.
Treatment:
The conservative approach to treating patellar tendinitis aims to reduce the strain on your tendon and then
gradually build up the tendon's strength.
Symptoms and Signs:
The pain usually is located in the section of your patellar tendon between your kneecap (patella) and the area
where the tendon attaches to your shinbone (tibia).
Causes:
Patellar tendinitis is a common overuse injury. It shows when you place repeated stress on your patellar tendon.
The stress results in tiny tears in the tendon that your body attempts to repair. But as the tears in the tendon
become numerous, your body can not keep up, causing the inflammation in your tendon to worsen.
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