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Patellar tendonitis: how to soothe it?

Patellar tendonitis: how to soothe it?


Patellar tendonitis is a common overuse injury resulting from repeated stress on the patellar tendon. It results in inflammation and pain of the tendon located on the front of the knee, below the kneecap.

The condition is common among athletes and sportspeople whose activity involves frequent jumping. However, sedentary people are not spared and can develop the condition.

Here we'll help you understand the causes of patellar tendonitis, and suggest some solutions and tips to help relieve it.

Article summary

What is patellar tendonitis?

The patellar tendonitis is a condition that affects the patellar tendon. In most cases, it results from excessive strain on the knee. The injury generally evolves in 3 phases corresponding to levels of aggravation and progressive increase in pain.

In the absence of appropriate management, patients suffering from patellar tendonitis progress from reaction phaseto a reworking phase ending with a degeneration phase (more serious and disabling).

Understanding the causes and symptoms of patellar tendonitis

Major causes :

Patellar tendonitis is one of the most common types of tendonitis. overuse injuries. It therefore often appears as the result of a excessive strain on your knee or a repeated stress on your patellar tendon leading to inflammation or tearing. This can occur, for example, during a session (or a series of sessions) of over-intensive training/exercise.

Other causes include:

  • Poor development of leg muscles (glutes, quadriceps, calves)
  • Stiffness of the quadriceps, hamstring or ankle muscles
  • A biomechanical defect in the lower limbs

 Risk factors :

Although it can appear at any age, it most frequently affects athletes and sportsmen and sportswomen involved in receiving sports (volleyball, basketball, soccer...), running, trail running and other sports. sports involving heavy and/or repeated loads on the patellar tendon.

Similarly, you're more likely to develop patellar tendonitis if you train on a rigid surface, with uneven surfaces and when you wear worn-out or unsuitable footwear. Finally, an unbalanced diet, insufficient hydration, lack of sleep and excessive alcohol consumption are also aggravating factors.

Relieve muscle, ligament and joint disorders with STIMCARE

Simply apply the patch by following our tutorial videos, available in French only. here to guide you every step of the way.

If you have any questions about how to apply the patch, send your request to sante@stimcareonline.com. A therapist trained and certified to apply STIMCARE patches will take the time to answer your questions.

Symptoms of patellar tendonitis:

People affected by this condition generally complain of pain on the front of the kneebelow the patella.

Pain increases with activity, such as jumping, landing, running or climbing stairs.

In addition, there is a reduction in hot pain in the first phase. But the pain persists during training in phases 2 and 3. The tendon thickens and becomes sensitive to palpation. Finally, the knee swells and feels hot. Only clinical diagnosis will establish whether you really have patellar tendonitis and not another knee pathology.

Treatments to relieve patellar tendonitis

Note that there are various remedies and tips to effectively relieve your patellar tendonitis in the event of a confirmed diagnosis. With a focus on natural solutions, you can soothe the pain by applying cold to the affected areain making a clay poulticewearing an orthosis/knee brace or or simply by applying a STIMCARE patch. Of course, these treatments can and should ideally be combined with physiotherapist-led rehabilitation exercises to speed up remission in cases of severe tendonitis.

● Application of cold or ice

First and foremost, you should limit the activity that has led to patellar tendon inflammation, and rest your knee. You can then use cold therapy, apply ice packs to relieve the pain you feel when it's too strong. The ideal solution is to use cold and heat at the same time: ice on the patellar tendon and a hot water bottle on the quadriceps muscle. The heat will relax the muscle, which will stop pulling on the tendon, and the cold will soothe it. Minimum exposure time: 1 hour.

● Making a clay poultice

Green clay is a natural product renowned for its analgesic, anti-inflammatory and remineralizing properties on joints in particular. Use it to soothe pain and inflammation in your knee. With green clay powder (stored in a glass container), you'll prepare a poultice using a wooden spoon (not metal) and apply it directly to your sore knee, about 5mm thick. Then cover it with "celofrais" paper to enclose the poultice for the night. This avoids getting clay in the sheets.

● Application of Stimcare patches

You can finally count on STIMCARE patches to effectively relieve discomfort in your patellar tendon. Easy to use, you can apply your patch locally to the knee to be treated. The increased microcirculation under the patch will drain toxins and bring more oxygen and nutrients to the tendon. This will reduce inflammation and relieve the area. Don't hesitate to follow the tutorial " Relieve patellar tendon discomfort "This is achieved by placing a patch on the quadriceps muscle, a patch on the patellar tendon and a patch on the opposite (often disruptive) ankle to help regulate its tension.

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