Physiotherapy plays an important role in the rehabilitation process of patellar tendinitis, both as a conservative treatment method and after surgery. Patellar tendinitis is an overuse disease of the patella (kneecap). The main focus of physiotherapeutic treatment for patellar tendon syndrome is first of all the treatment of pain, then the build-up of muscles and coordination training, and finally the imparting of a good body feeling to the patient in order to prevent a recurrence of patellar tendon syndrome. Depending on the cause of patellar tendinitis and whether surgery precedes physiotherapy, the treatment plans vary slightly.
Physiotherapy
When a patient is brought to the physiotherapeutic practice with a diagnosis of patellar tip syndrome, the first step is to take an initial anamnesis. This means that the treating therapist obtains a picture of the disease with the help of the available medical file, specific questions to the patient and a physical examination. This is very important for the preparation of an individual therapy plan, because the cause of the patellar tendinitis must be considered.
Depending on whether the patient has had surgery on the patellar tendon or not, physiotherapy usually begins with techniques for pain relief. These include heat, cold and electrotherapy, massages, ultrasound and shock wave therapy, as well as passive exercises. In so-called passive exercises, the therapist moves the patient’s leg without the patient’s help.
In the case of acute patellar tendinitis, the patient must completely refrain from sports activities outside of physiotherapy for 8-12 weeks. This is the only way to allow the injury to heal without problems. In the next stage of physiotherapy, the main aim is to strengthen the muscles (especially the thigh muscles) and to perform exercises for coordination and stability.
In many cases, it can also be useful to carry out targeted movement training with the patient, whereby the patient learns to avoid or correct incorrect postures/movements. After about 12 weeks, the patient can slowly return to sports such as running, swimming or hiking. It is important that the affected person always warms up and stretches sufficiently before the training, so that injuries are prevented and the ligaments and tendons are not stressed too much. It can often also be helpful to seek professional advice on buying suitable footwear.
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