Tendinitis of the knee: how to deal with it

A pain in the front of the knee, just below the patella, which appears during physical activity, should never be neglected, but treated with ice, rest and topical anti-inflammatory drugs.

A strange pain in the knee, in front, just below the patella, that you just do not understand what it depends on. And it’s getting worse. It is possible that it is knee tendinitis: let’s see together what it is and how it can be treated.

What is it all about?

Knee tendonitis, more precisely called patellar or patellar tendonitis, affects precisely the patellar tendon, the one that connects the lower-anterior half of the patella to the upper end of the tibia and which is stressed by any flexion movement of the knee.

Running, jumping, climbing stairs, pedaling, flexing on your knees, kicking a ball are all activities that involve this fibrous structure and can cause it to become inflamed, when they are performed too intensely or for a long time, repetitively or abruptly. But even kneeling or sitting cross-legged for a few tens of minutes can cause considerable discomfort.

The drawbacks at this level are experienced especially if you are no longer very young and the tendons have already begun to be less toned and elastic, but also at an early age, if you regularly practice sports such as football, basketball, athletics, skating and artistic gymnastics or dance, which put a lot of effort on the knee.

The problem is: how to deal with knee tendinitis to quickly alleviate the symptoms and avoid greater damage, without giving up practicing physical activity for too long?

A pain not to be overlooked

Regardless of the cause that led to patellar tendinitis, a crucial aspect to consider is that knee pain should never be overlooked because forcing in the presence of inflammation of the tendon can only make things worse, increasing the symptoms and the consequent limitation in the movements of the knee and leg and favoring the development of chronic tendinitis.

Therefore, when during physical activity or following a trauma in the lower part of the patella you feel a significant twinge that makes it difficult to bend and extend the knee, you should stop and apply ice as soon as possible to immediately counteract acute inflammation. The cold also helps to reduce pain, while the interruption of stresses on the tendon avoids aggravating any micro-lesions already present and producing new ones.

Keeping the knee at rest (lying down or sitting with the leg raised, unloaded) and applying ice cyclically (for 15-20 minutes every hour or so) are the ideal approach in the first 24-48 hours after developing significant knee tendinitis. Already at this stage and in the following period, to counteract inflammation in a targeted way, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in gel or cream can be applied to the front of the knee, choosing one of the preparations that can be freely purchased in pharmacies without a prescription.

Useful remedies

Common topical NSAIDs in gel, applied in adequate quantities, with a gentle massage, 2 to 4 times a day, are generally sufficient to obtain the necessary anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect, thanks to their high efficiency of penetration into the skin and their rapid action.

When the pain begins to decrease and always within 5-7 days, the knee should start to be used again to prevent the muscles and supporting tissues of the joint from weakening too much due to inactivity. At this stage, the application of an NSAID gel or cream can help to gradually resume movement and perform any necessary rehabilitation exercises without too much discomfort.

Joycelyn Elders is the author and creator of EmpowerEssence, a health and wellness blog. Elders is a respected public health advocate and pediatrician dedicated to promoting general health and well-being.

The blog covers a wide range of topics related to health and wellness, with articles organized into several categories.

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