Tendons are the thick bands of tissue that attach bones to muscles throughout the body, so they serve a key purpose in every joint. One of the most commonly injured tendons in the body is the patellar tendon, which connects the patella (kneecap) to the tibia (shinbone) – which is the larger bone in the lower leg.
Repetitive motions and overexertion of the knee can cause inflammation of the tendon, which is tendonitis. The resulting pain can become worse and develop into a chronic condition without proper treatment by a tendonitis specialist.
But where should you go to find a tendonitis specialist? Actually, an ideal medical professional who can treat your knee without the use of medicine or surgery is a physical therapist (PT), because knee tendonitis usually responds well to conservative, nonsurgical treatment. Let’s talk about how a physical therapist can help you find relief from your knee tendonitis, and where you can go for an evaluation and therapeutic treatment that works for you.
How a Physical Therapist Can Help Treat Knee Tendonitis
Lack of proper conditioning and a sudden increase in the intensity of playing a sport or exercising usually leads to knee tendonitis. Physical therapists treat patients through movement, so you can expect your tendonitis specialist to teach you special exercises and stretches to help heal your inflamed tendon.
Through stretching and strengthening, your leg muscles will become stronger, and your knee tendons will become sturdier and more flexible. These exercises will naturally help to reduce the inflammation of knee tendonitis.
As the tendon heals, your tendonitis specialist will show you proper form and technique, since knee tendonitis is often caused by improper technique. Preventing a reoccurrence of your tendonitis is important in order to help prevent the need for surgical repair in the future.
In addition to exercises, physical therapists can provide manual therapy, ultrasound therapy, and electrical stimulation to help relieve pain and to gradually restore function to the knee.
Physical Therapy serving Austin, Round Rock, Manor, Pflugerville, Cedar Park, Bee Caves, and Hutto
Here at Endeavor Physical Therapy & Wellness, our physical therapists are tendonitis specialists. We regularly help patients who have knee tendonitis to recover from the painful inflammation, and we will help you to prevent a recurrence by showing you proper movement techniques to reduce strain on the knee tendons.
Our treatment programs are customized and tailored to address the unique needs of each of our patients. With time, your knee will stop hurting and will start functioning normally.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced physical therapists, contact our friendly staff at Endeavor today by calling us at (512) 284-7192 or by filling out our easy-to-use appointment request form online now. We look forward to helping you get back in the game!
