Definition
Inflammation of the tendon in the hollow of the knee is a disease of the muscles and tendons located in the hollow of the knee. The tendon inflammation (tendinitis) is usually a consequence of overloading the muscles. More rarely, inflammatory systemic bases or bacteria and viruses are the cause of tendonitis. It becomes noticeable through pain, possibly also redness and swelling in the hollow of the knee. In addition, movement restrictions in the affected leg can also occur.
Causes
In most cases, tendonitis in the hollow of the knee is caused by excessive strain on the muscles running there. The overstrain causes small damages in the tendons again and again, which are repaired by the body, temporarily leading to small inflammatory processes. In case of a permanent overload, the focus of inflammation cannot heal, instead a chronic inflammation develops, which manifests itself as tendon inflammation.
Permanent inflammation also plays a role in inflammatory systemic diseases such as rheumatism. In such diseases, the immune system attacks the body’s own cells, which also causes inflammatory reactions. If this happens in the hollow of the knee it can quickly lead to tendonitis.
Infectious causes of tendon inflammation in the popliteal fossa are also rare. The thigh bizeps (Musculus biceps femoris) belongs to the group of so-called ischiocrural muscles. It runs along the back of the thigh and is involved in both hip and knee movement.
In the hip it causes an extension of the hip and in the knee joint a flexion of the leg. Overloading and chronic inflammatory diseases can cause the biceps tendon to become inflamed. Mostly the tendon in the hollow of the knee is affected, resulting in pain, redness and swelling in the area of the knee.
The popliteal muscle (Musculus popliteus) is a very small muscle located at the back of the popliteal fossa. It extends from the outside of the thigh across the popliteal fossa to the inside and back of the lower leg bone. There it is involved in knee flexion.
The inflammation of the popliteus tendon can be both acute and chronic. Most commonly, athletes, especially running (including ball sports) and sometimes also cyclists are affected by the disease. In the first phase, rest, cooling, raising the leg and medication that inhibits the inflammation and relieves the pain help.
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