Tendinitis in the knee

Definition

The term tendonitis is used to describe an inflammatory reaction, which is usually caused by overloading. Sportsmen and women in particular are often affected by tendonitis in the knee. However, a distinction must be made between two forms.

A chronic course is called tendinosis. This is caused by long-term overstraining of the tendon with insufficient regeneration or blood circulation. This leads to an inflammatory reaction of the structures involved without typical inflammatory cells being detectable.

An example of this is the runner’s knee. Tendinitis, on the other hand, is an inflammation of the tendon of the knee with an acute course such as after a single overloading of the affected joint. In this case, the usual inflammatory cells and markers also occur.

However, a distinction must be made between two forms. A chronic course is called tendinosis. This is caused by a long-term overstrain of the tendon with insufficient regeneration or blood supply to the tendon.

This leads to an inflammatory reaction of the structures involved without typical inflammatory cells being detectable. An example of this is the runner’s knee. Tendinitis, on the other hand, is an inflammation of the tendon of the knee with an acute course such as after a single overloading of the affected joint. In this case, the usual inflammatory cells and markers also occur.

Causes

The cause of tendon inflammation in the knee is usually mechanical overstrain of this joint. Often people are affected who regularly do a lot of sports very often without the structures being able to regenerate completely until the next training session. But new, unfamiliar movements or incorrect loading can also trigger tendonitis.

In some cases, sportswear can also be the cause of the complaints. For example, unsuitable running shoes can cause such a malpositioning that the tendons rub excessively against adjacent structures and become inflamed as a result. Preexisting diseases of the knee joint can also promote the development of tendon inflammation.

Although cycling is generally considered a sport that is easy on the joints, knee pain can occur, especially after long cycling tours. These can have various causes, but one of them can be tendonitis. Mostly the tendon at the kneecap is affected, which connects the muscles of the long thigh extensors with the knee.

If this is the case, the seating position and the foot position when cycling should be checked again in order to avoid incorrect loading. Also the extent of cycling should possibly be adjusted to avoid overloading. Patellar tendon syndrome is a disease of the patellar tendon.

The transition from the tendon to the patella is damaged by overloading, resulting in a painful degeneration of this transition (insertion tendinopathy). In most cases, chronic overloading is the cause of the patellar tendon syndrome. Therefore, athletes, especially in running and jumping sports, are most frequently affected by the symptoms, but weightlifters can also suffer from patellar tendinitis.

In addition to congenital anatomical conditions (position of the kneecap and strength of the ligament structures in the knee), external influences such as the frequency of loading and the breaks between loading and recovery play a major role in the development of the symptoms. Depending on the severity of the complaints, patellar tendinitis is divided into four degrees of severity. In the lightest degree, the complaints occur only after loading, in degree two the complaints are felt at the beginning and end of loading.

Grade three is defined by permanent pain. In the worst degree, the patella tendon is so severely damaged that it tears. Normally, the patellar tendon syndrome is treated conservatively with rest, physiotherapy, anti-inflammatory drugs, therapeutic electrostimulation and ultrasound. If the conservative measures fail, surgery is indicated.

  • Bandages for patellar tip syndrome
  • Surgery for patellar tip syndrome