Knee Injury Causes
Tendinitis and Ruptured Tendons - What Are the Causes of
Tendinitis and Ruptured Tendons?
Knee tendon injuries range from tendinitis (inflammation
of a tendon) to a ruptured (torn) tendon. If a person overuses
a tendon during certain activities such as dancing, cycling,
or running, the tendon stretches like a worn-out rubber band
and becomes inflamed. Movements such as trying to break a
fall may cause excessive contraction of the quadriceps muscles
and tear the quadriceps tendon above the patella or the patellar
tendon below the patella. This type of injury is most likely
to happen in older people whose tendons tend to be weaker.
Tendinitis of the patellar tendon is sometimes called jumper's
knee. This is because in sports requiring jumping, such as
basketball, the muscle contraction and force of hitting the
ground after a jump strain the tendon. The tendon may become
inflamed or tear after repeated stress.
What Are the Symptoms of Tendon Injuries?
How Are Injuries Diagnosed?
People with tendinitis often have tenderness at the point
where the patellar tendon meets the bone. They also may feel
pain during faster movements, such as running, hurried walking,
or jumping. A complete rupture of the quadriceps or patellar
tendon is not only painful but also makes it difficult for
a person to bend, extend, or lift the leg against gravity.
If there is not much swelling, the doctor will be able to
feel a defect in the tendon near the tear during a physical
examination. An x ray will show that the patella is lower
in position than normal in a quadriceps tendon tear and higher
than normal in a patellar tendon tear. The doctor may use
an MRI to confirm a partial or total tear.
How Are Knee Tendon Injuries Treated?
Initially, the doctor may ask a patient with tendinitis to
rest, elevate, and apply ice to the knee and to take medicines
such as aspirin or ibuprofen to relieve pain and decrease
inflammation and swelling. If the quadriceps or patellar tendon
is completely ruptured, a surgeon will reattach the ends.
After surgery, the patient will wear a cast for 3 to 6 weeks
and use crutches. If the tear is only partial, the doctor
might apply a cast without performing surgery.
A partial or complete tear of a tendon requires an exercise
program as part of rehabilitation that is similar to but less
vigorous than that prescribed for ligament injuries. The goals
of exercise are to restore the ability to bend and straighten
the knee and to strengthen the leg to prevent a repeat knee
injury. A rehabilitation program may last 6 months, although
the patient can return to many activities before then.
Osgood-Schlatter Disease - What Are
the Causes of Osgood-Schlatter Disease?
Osgood-Schlatter disease is caused by repetitive stress or
tension on a part of the growth area of the upper tibia (the
apophysis). It is characterized by inflammation of the patellar
tendon and surrounding soft tissues at the point where the
tendon attaches to the tibia. The disease may also be associated
with an avulsion injury, in which the tendon is stretched
so much that it tears away from the tibia and takes a fragment
of bone with it. The disease most commonly affects active
young people, particularly boys between the ages of 10 and
15, who play games or sports that include frequent running
and jumping.
What Are the Symptoms of Osgood-Schlatter
Disease? How Is It Diagnosed?
People with this disease experience pain just below the knee
joint that usually worsens with activity and is relieved by
rest. A bony bump that is particularly painful when pressed
may appear on the upper edge of the tibia (below the knee
cap). Usually, motion of the knee is not affected. Pain may
last a few months and may recur until a child's growth is
completed.
Osgood Schlatter disease is most often diagnosed by the symptoms.
An x ray may be normal, or show an avulsion injury, or, more
typically, show that the apophysis is in fragments.
How Is Osgood-Schlatter Disease Treated?
Usually, the disease disappears without treatment. Applying
ice to the knee when pain first begins helps relieve inflammation
and is sometimes used along with stretching and strengthening
exercises. The doctor may advise the patient to limit participation
in vigorous sports. Children who wish to continue participating
in moderate or less stressful sports may need to wear knee
pads for protection and apply ice to the knee after activity.
If a great deal of pain is felt during sports activities,
participation may be limited until any remaining discomfort
is tolerable.
Iliotibial Band Syndrome - What Causes
Iliotibial Band Syndrome?
This is an overuse inflammatory condition due to friction
(rubbing) of a band of a tendon over the outer bone (lateral
condyle) of the knee. Although iliotibial band syndrome may
be caused by direct injury to the knee, it is most often caused
by the stress of long-term overuse, such as sometimes occurs
in sports training.
What Are the Symptoms of Iliotibial
Band Syndrome and How Is It Diagnosed?
A person with this syndrome feels an ache or burning sensation
at the side of the knee during activity. Pain may be localized
at the side of the knee or radiate up the side of the thigh.
A person may also feel a snap when the knee is bent and then
straightened. Swelling is usually absent and knee motion is
normal. The diagnosis of this disorder is usually based on
the patient's symptoms, such as pain at the lateral condyle,
and exclusion of other conditions with similar symptoms.
How Is Iliotibial Band Syndrome Treated?
Usually, iliotibial band syndrome disappears if the person
reduces activity and performs stretching exercises followed
by muscle-strengthening exercises. In rare cases when the
syndrome doesn't disappear, surgery may be necessary to split
the tendon so it is not stretched too tightly over the bone.
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