Patellar tendon syndrome, which is a combination of multiple disorders, is also colloquially referred to as jumper’s knee or jumper ‘s knee.
What is Patellar Tension Syndrome?
In this disease, the knee is affected by an inflammatory process that is chronic, i.e. persistent and constantly recurs as soon as the original triggers are present again.
In addition, patellar tendon syndrome is a devastating condition. It is therefore referred to as degenerative and, from an anatomical point of view, affects the kneecap extensor apparatus. In the case of patellar tip syndrome, the bone and tendon transition is particularly involved in this zone, which represents the connection to the tip of the kneecap. See foodanddrinkjournal for I Cell Disease Dictionary Definitions.
A syndrome, i.e. a complex of impairments, arises in the patellar tendon syndrome because so many individual components are affected. Basically, the patellar tip syndrome is a so-called overload disease.
Causes
Patellar tendon syndrome occurs when excessive stress is placed on the kneecap tendon. Mechanical influences such as too intense and sometimes sudden stress caused by a tensile force lead to a patella tip syndrome. Typical everyday activities, which also include special sports that characterize the highest possible overstraining of the patella tendon by pulling and performing the movement on a non-resilient subfloor, can promote the development of the patellar tip syndrome.
In addition to the triggers known as external causes, some internal factors also cause a patellar tip syndrome. In this context, patients who are over the age of 15 and suffer from an elevated kneecap often complain about the patellar tip syndrome.
Furthermore, reduced flexibility of the muscles of the lower extremities and genetic weakness of the ligamentous discs can contribute to patellar tendon syndrome. A typical disease that entails a patellar tip syndrome is the health impairment known as Osgood-Schlatter disease.
Symptoms, Ailments & Signs
Patellar tendon syndrome is characterized by stress pain in the knees. These can already occur with normal movements. These are chronic complaints that usually last for months or years. Extending the affected knee against resistance is also painful.
Athletes who practice sports that put a strain on their knees, such as running, high jump, long jump, weightlifting, volleyball, basketball or jogging, are often affected. The pain can occur on one side or on both sides. They are perceived as pressure-like and are located below the kneecap. In more than 20 to 30 percent of all cases, there are complaints on both sides. The disease can be divided into four grades.
In grade 1, the pain occurs only at the end of a load. Without treatment, grade 2 disease occurs over time. Here the pain already starts at the beginning of the knee load. During sports activities, however, the symptoms decrease until they are pain-free. They only reappear when they are at rest.
Grade 3 patellar tendon syndrome is characterized by persistent pain in the knees, regardless of current loading. Finally, at grade 4, there is a patellar tendon rupture. The knee joint can then no longer be stretched. A prerequisite for the treatment of a patellar tip syndrome is the immediate cessation of strain for six weeks to three months.
course of the disease
At the beginning of the patellar tip syndrome, the affected patients complain about painful symptoms, which become worse with more stress and subside again in phases of rest or with normal stress. In patellar tendon syndrome, the pain is always felt at the tip of the kneecap.
Depending on the progression of the patellar tip syndrome, the pain at the beginning of the load is severe. If the holding apparatus of the knee is warmed up, the pain decreases again. If the movement activity is stopped, the pain may reappear. In the further untreated course, the pain persists and occurs with any exertion.
The pain associated with the patellar tip syndrome is described as shooting and stabbing and always occurs when the entire knee joint is in a certain angular position and is being moved. The patellar tip syndrome is known for its great stubbornness and long-lasting and constantly recurring pain.
Complications
The patellar tip syndrome leads to various complaints in the patient. As a rule, those affected suffer from severe pain in their knees. This pain is stabbing or burning and can lead to a significant reduction in the patient’s quality of life. This leads to restrictions in movement and thus also in everyday life. Carrying out physical activities or sporting activities is also no longer easily possible for the patient.
In many cases, the patellar tip syndrome also leads to psychological problems or severe depression. The pain can also occur without exertion in the form of rest pain and is very uncomfortable, especially at night. This leads to sleep problems and thus also to irritability of the patient. The treatment of the patellar tendon syndrome is usually not associated with complications.
With the help of various therapies and exercises, the symptoms can be well limited. There are no other complaints. It cannot be generally predicted whether the person affected will be able to use their knees again with full function. However, the life expectancy of the patient is not negatively influenced by the patellar tip syndrome.
When should you go to the doctor?
Pain in the area of the tip of the kneecap indicates the patella tip syndrome. A doctor should be consulted if the symptoms do not go away or get worse within a few days. If the pain occurs while the kneecap is being used and persists, the syndrome may be advanced. At that point, at the latest, the doctor must be involved. Athletes are particularly prone to patellar tendon syndrome. You should consult your family doctor or a sports medicine specialist if the symptoms mentioned keep recurring.
The doctor can prescribe special patella bandages, which usually provide rapid relief from the symptoms. If the pain in the area of the tip of the kneecap does not decrease despite all measures, further therapeutic measures must be initiated. These include acupuncture and targeted pressure point massages. Depending on the severity of the condition, extracorporeal shock wave therapy can bring relief. Patellar tendon syndrome is treated by an orthopedist or sports medicine specialist. Physiotherapists are also involved in the treatment. In individual cases, a surgical intervention on the knee is necessary for a patellar tip syndrome.
Treatment & Therapy
Several variants are offered for the treatment of the patellar tip syndrome. In addition to the initially conservative approach, the surgical procedure is a possible type of treatment. As part of the conservative measures, comprehensive protection is important, which can last 3 to 6 months. In the acute onset of patellar tip syndrome, a combination of physiotherapeutic and physical as well as drug treatments is indicated.
In addition to the supply of heat or cold, electrical stimulation, ultrasound-assisted treatments, so-called friction massages and physiotherapy exercises as well as shock wave therapy are considered useful. The drugs of choice for patellar tendon syndrome are non-steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs and anti-inflammatory and pain- relieving drugs. Patellar tendon syndrome can also be treated by directly administering the medication to the affected area of inflammation.
If a patella tip syndrome cannot be dealt with using conventional therapeutic measures, then an operation is carried out to restore freedom from symptoms. Both individual surgical activities and combined procedures are used in this context.
Outlook & Forecast
The prognosis after a patellar tendon syndrome depends on the extent of the injury. Especially in the case of athletes, it is possible that some of them can return to their usual level of performance after the treatment, while other athletes suffer from chronic complaints. In the case of a mild patellar tip syndrome, the patient usually recovers after three weeks. However, severe injuries can take at least six to eight months to heal.
If the patient does not exercise for a certain period of time, conservative treatment is classified as promising. To prevent relapses, the use of relieving orthoses, tape bandages or soft shoe soles is considered helpful. The prognosis is also positive after surgical treatment of the patellar tip syndrome. The success rate is between 70 and 90 percent. However, athletes often have to reckon with a lower level when returning to their sport.
If the patient suffers from a patellar tip syndrome for the first time, his chances of recovery improve if he significantly reduces or even completely limits his physical exertion. In this way, the inflammation within the knee can be healed. Sometimes this gentle procedure is enough to achieve healing.
If an operation is necessary, it takes about two to six months before full sporting activities can be practiced again. In severe cases, however, the end of a professional sports career is also possible.
Prevention
In order to avoid patellar tendon syndrome, it always makes sense to refrain from overloading the knees. In addition, good shock-absorbing footwear and an intensive warm-up and stretching phase before any sporting activity are important to prevent patellar tip syndrome.
In order to optimally cushion shoes, well-sprung shoe soles and soft insoles as well as so-called tape bandages are sufficient. In addition to the orthoses, these are specially designed to prevent patellar tip syndrome.
In view of the patellar tip syndrome, it becomes clear how important it is not to overstrain the knee joints, to treat the body responsibly during sport and to pay attention to staying healthy and to avoid extensive complaints and time-consuming therapies.
Aftercare
In the case of patellar tip syndrome, the aftercare measures are relatively severely limited in most cases, with a quick diagnosis and subsequent treatment being very important in order to alleviate and limit the symptoms. For this reason, the person affected by this disease should consult a doctor very early on and also arrange for treatment.
Most of those affected are dependent on physiotherapy and physiotherapy measures for patellar tip syndrome. These exercises should be carried out regularly, although it is also possible to repeat them at home. This can alleviate most of the symptoms.
The intake of various medications is also very important. The person concerned should always follow the doctor’s instructions and pay attention to the correct dosage and regular intake of the medication. If anything is unclear or if you have any questions, you should always consult a doctor first.
Unnecessary exertion or heavy physical exertion should also be avoided. In general, a healthy lifestyle with a healthy diet and avoiding obesity can also have a positive effect on the further course of the patellar tip syndrome. The syndrome itself usually does not reduce the life expectancy of the patient.
You can do that yourself
Depending on the cause and symptoms, different approaches to therapy can be useful. If therapy is already in place, it can be supported with measures that stimulate the metabolism and promote blood circulation. Whether a cold or heat stimulus is used is a matter of subjective perception. For a cold stimulus, for example, the painful area can be stroked with an ice cube or dabbed briefly.
The same approach applies to the heat stimulus. This can be done with a hot-warm gel pad or a hot-warm-wet cloth. It is important that the direct cold stimulus does not last longer than 2-3 minutes in order to really increase the local metabolism.
Another option is an intense stretch of the hamstrings. To do this, the heel is pulled towards the buttocks and held there. The knee is bent as much as possible. The stretch should then be held for 20-30 seconds, then switch sides and repeat 2-3 times.
Stresses such as going down stairs, long kneeling or deep squatting should generally be avoided. Nevertheless, physical activity is recommended and can be very helpful for recovery, despite the initial pain. If the symptoms have existed for more than three months, professional advice and therapy is recommended.
