Knee pain is quite common and is about one-third of all doctor visits related to musculoskeletal pain.  One of the most common knee injuries I see in practice and in women’s professional tennis (WTA) is Patellar Tendonitis, also known as “Jumper’s Knee”.

Before we go into what is Patellar Tendonitis and the cause, let’s discuss the anatomy of the knee. The knee joint is made up of three bones.  The femur (thigh bone), patella (kneecap), and tibia (shin bone) meet to make up the knee. The patellar tendon extends from the quadriceps muscle (the front of the thigh) attaching onto the patella and then onto the tibia.

Patellar Tendonitis is the inflammation of the patellar tendon.  The inflammation occurs due to overuse or overloading the tissue with impact related activities such as walking, running, and jumping. Most knee pain is not due to an actual trauma but is from the burden of overcompensation from issues above or below the knee. Muscle imbalances or tension in other parts of the body like the quadriceps, IT band, or adductors are usually the culprits.  Foam rolling these areas can help to break up adhesions and tension which may help to relieve knee pain.

How Dr. Victoria Treats Knee Pain

Dr. Victoria will conduct a thorough injury assessment to identify the true underlying cause of the pain. By pinpointing the cause, she can treat the pain directly at the source rather than just treating the symptoms. This custom treatment plan also includes education, so the patients are equipped to perform these active recovery exercises at home to further boost recovery and strengthen surrounding muscles to help stabilize the joint. This combination of injury education, treatment, and active rehab exercises helps lead to fast, effective recovery.

If knee pain has been keeping you from doing what you love, schedule an appointment today at www.dynamic-docs.com.