How long can patellar tendonitis last

Jumping, running, and landing are likely to make the pain worse. A person may begin to notice weakness in the knee, particularly during exercises that put pressure on this part of the body. When the leg is straight, the area below the knee may feel tender when touched. The area around the knee can also feel tight or stiff, particularly first thing in the morning. A large tear of the patella tendon is a serious injury, and a complete tear will separate the tendon from the kneecap.

A person may hear a tearing or popping sound, and will feel significant pain. The knee may also swell and bruise. Walking may be difficult and a person may be unable to straighten the leg. Ongoing knee pain or discomfort should not be ignored. Treating patellar tendonitis early can ensure a quick and complete recovery.

A doctor or physical therapist will diagnose this condition, after asking about symptoms, medical history and exercise routines. They will also perform an examination, during which a person may be asked to move or straighten their leg. The doctor will gently press the area round the knee, as the tendon often feels thicker on the affected side. The doctor may also request magnetic resonance imaging MRI or an X-ray to examine a serious tear and to determine whether the kneecap is in the right position.

Treatment for patellar tendonitis is usually focused on pain reduction. A person will need to rest the affected leg, apply ice to the area, and take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication. You need to ease back into your training slowly and pay attention to every little bit of discomfort in your knee. This way you can prevent mistakes that will flush all your progress down the toilet.

In summary, you can avoid the three mistakes that will add months to your recovery time by following these steps:. Get a training journal and track your pain scores every day. Next, start doing tendon-strengthening exercises like slow eccentric squats or isometric wall sits.

Once your pain has gone down significantly, ease back into your regular training very slowly. Use your pain scores to avoid anything that increases your pain. Now, as for how much recovery time you should expect, academic research found that if you follow a safe strengthening regimen you will notice a reduction in pain after 3 to 4 weeks Rutland et al.

It will show you great healing exercises to get you back to your sport as soon as possible. You can sign up right below this video or by going to fix-knee-pain. Lastly, if you know someone with patellar tendonitis or have friends in jumping sports such as basketball or volleyball, give them a head start on this injury by sharing the link to this video. Cook, J. A pathology model to explain the clinical presentation of load-induced tendinopathy.

In British Journal of Sports Medicine 43 6 , pp. DOI: Huisman, E. You will be required to stay off the knee as much as possible while it heals, significantly limiting your activity. There are certain at-home exercises that can help speed up your recovery time. These exercises, paired with comprehensive physical therapy, can help reduce knee pain associated with tendonitis. Airrosti can help rapidly speed recovery, allowing you to maintain your active lifestyle and continue any athletic activities.

Through our highly targeted, noninvasive manual therapy and active recovery program, we can often resolve your injury in an average of three visits based on patient-reported outcomes, and most individuals can resume normal activity right away. Reviewed by Casey Crisp, Doctor of Chiropractic. Disclaimer: Always consult with your doctor before starting any exercise program. If you experience any numbness, tingling or reproduction of your symptoms, please contact your doctor.

Tendonitis Prevention Tips for Basketball Players. Patient Portal. View Locations. Reviewed by Casey Crisp, Doctor of Chiropractic Disclaimer: Always consult with your doctor before starting any exercise program. Doctors typically begin with less invasive treatments before considering other options, such as surgery. Pain relievers such as ibuprofen Advil, Motrin IB, others or naproxen sodium Aleve, others may provide short-term relief from pain associated with patellar tendinitis. A variety of physical therapy techniques can help reduce the symptoms associated with patellar tendinitis, including:.

If you have knee pain during or after physical activity that doesn't improve with ice or rest, see your doctor. After an exam, your doctor may refer you to a sports medicine specialist.

Below are some basic questions to ask a doctor who is examining you for possible patellar tendinitis. If additional questions occur to you, don't hesitate to ask. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Diagnosis During the exam, your doctor may apply pressure to parts of your knee to determine where you hurt.