Do you have inflammation in your knee joint?
Have you wondered about tendonitis and how this effects your knee. Severe knee tendonitis is an injury typically seen in individuals who participate in sporting activities on a regular basis. This is a condition that occurs when the tendons that make up part of knee joint become inflamed.
The knee is protected behind a plate of bone known as the patella (your kneecap). There are two main tendons that are part of the knee. These tendons connect the patella to two separate parts of the leg. The quadriceps are the upper thigh muscles and the shinbone is the lower leg bone. Both of these parts of the leg are connected to the patella by the knee tendons.
Different Forms Of Tendonitis
Patellar Tendonitis - Patellar Tendonitis is generally caused by overuse of the quadriceps muscles. Activities such as running and jumping exert strain on the quadriceps. Engaging in too much of these activities can cause inflammation of the tendons connecting the quadriceps to the patella. In this form of tendonitis, pain occurs below the knee, in the patellar tendon.
Quadriceps Tendonitis - Quadriceps Tendonitis is also typically caused by overuse of the quadriceps. Unlike Patellar Tendonitis, however, this form of tendonitis is characterized by pain above the knee.
The types of activities that generally cause both of these forms of tendonitis are the same, however.
Treatment of Severe Knee Tendonitis
Treatment of severe knee tendonitis tends to be more long drawn out than most other knee injury treatments. This is because tendons have lesser elasticity as compared to muscles. They also receive less blood from the bloodstream. This means that that injured tendons take much longer to heal than injured muscles generally do. After the initial period of the injury, it is important to carefully stretch the tendons as they heal to improve their elasticity (see your physician on details about stretching). Failure to do so will render the tendons much less elastic than before and more prone to further injury.
Prevention of Severe Knee Tendonitis
One of the most important things you can do to prevent severe knee tendonitis is to stretch the whole body including the knees before any form of physical activity. Stretching gives the muscles greater flexibility during exercise, allowing them to absorb more impact and twisting motions. This greatly reduces the chances of sustaining tendonitis.
Another effective preventive strategy is to wear knee braces while exercising. A knee brace is a "tool" that goes around each knee, helping to provide it with the necessary support and protection. Knee braces help prevent the knees from slipping into awkward positions that are likely to sprain or strain the knees. They also help to support you from the impact of running and jumping, easing the strain on the joint. A knee support can also help keep your knee warm and will remind you, if not stop you, from making excessive and painful movements.
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