What is a patellar tendon injury?

A patellar tendon injury is an injury to the patellar tendon. A tendon is a band of dense fibrous tissue forming the end of a muscle that attaches muscle to bone. The patellar tendon attaches the kneecap to the bones in the leg. Patella refers to the kneecap.

How does it occur?

Usually overusing or overstretching causes knee pain. Overuse can occur in exercise routines and sports. Twisting with feet fixed, rapid squatting, or sharply extending the knee beyond its range of motion can cause this injury.

Sometimes irregularities of the knee joint that cause pain around the kneecap can accompany an overuse injury of the knee.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms of a patellar tendon injury include:

• pain

• inability to fully extend or bend the knee

• swelling.

How is it diagnosed?

To diagnose a knee injury, the doctor will review the history of your injury and your symptoms. He or she will also examine you. Because knee pain occurs in many illnesses, the doctor will examine you carefully to determine the cause of the pain.

The doctor may order x-rays and possibly arthroscopy. Arthroscopy is a procedure in which the doctor inserts a very small lighted tube into the knee to see the injury. A general or local anesthesia is used.

How is it treated?

If the patellar tendon is not completely torn (ruptured), the doctor will ask you to follow these first-aid measures:

• Place ice packs on the kneecap for at least the first 24 hours to reduce swelling and promote healing.

• Raise your injured leg above the level of your heart whenever possible.

• Rest after the injury has taken place.

• Apply a knee brace with an open area over the patella or wrap an elastic bandage around the injured part for support.

If your patellar tendon is ruptured, the doctor may repair the tendon by surgery. While you are waiting for surgery for this injury, the doctor will immobilize your knee and put you on crutches.

How long will the effects last?

The effects will last as long as there is stress to the patellar tendon. Healing takes an average of 6 weeks.

How can I take care of myself?

To help take care of yourself, follow these guidelines unless the doctor suggests otherwise:

• Make ice packs by freezing water in Styrofoam cups. Peel the top of the cup away to expose the ice and massage the injured area gently with the ice. You can also make an ice pack out of two plastic bags. Place one bag inside the other and fill it half full of ice cubes or crushed ice. Add 1 and 1/2 to 2 cups of cold water. Tie the bag tightly. Twist the top several times and then tape it closed.

• Reduce activity to a pain-free level.

• Take an anti-inflammatory drug such as aspirin or ibuprofen if your stomach tolerates it.

• Elevate the knee. Keep the ice and elastic bandage on the elevated knee.

• Check for signs of increasing pain, numbness, cramping, or change in color. If these symptoms occur, leave the bandage off. Call your doctor.

What can be done to help prevent a patellar tendon injury?

To help prevent a patellar tendon injury:

• Get early treatment if an injury occurs or recurs.

• If exercising, wear properly fitting shoes, appropriate for the kind of exercise you're doing.

• Gently stretch before and after exercising.

• Do strengthening and rehabilitative exercises for the injured part. Gently stretch the front (quadricep) and back (hamstring) muscles of the thigh.

• If pain occurs, call your doctor and decrease activity to a pain-free level.

• Return to activity gradually.

• Add shock-absorbing insoles (orthotics) to your shoes to lessen the impact on the knee.