Physical activity is typically expected to result in many advantages for people, but numerous professional athletes suffer from specific injuries that emerge because of involvement in sports. Also known as Jumper’s Knee, Patellar Tendinitis is among such health issues. This condition can affect people from different kinds of sport, including football, figure skating, volleyball, and others. Since I am a basketball player who has had Patellar Tendinitis, I would like to present the basic information about this issue, its symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and prevention.
To begin with, I would like to explain what Patellar Tendinitis is. This term stands for a condition when a person’s “patellar tendon tissue becomes inflamed” (Cleveland Clinic, 2021). As a rule, this problem emerges during physical activity when an individual overloads their body. This condition has another name, Jumper’s Knee, because the injury typically affects professional basketball and volleyball players. This information demonstrates that repeated jumping motions contribute to the emergence of knee pain of different severity. Since numerous people can be subject to Patellar Tendinitis, it is reasonable to present more details about the condition.
Patellar Tendinitis symptoms can be insufficient at first, but it is reasonable to determine them on time to start treating. Thus, this health condition makes people feel mild to severe pain right under the kneecap, stiffness while trying to extend the knee, and worsening pain while squatting (Cleveland Clinic, 2021). The most challenging issue with this condition is that the symptoms develop slowly. If a person keeps doing sports despite mild discomfort, this feeling can turn into acute pain that emerges without physical activity. That is why athletes should be attentive to their bodies to identify any problems at their initial stages.
Now, it is not known for sure what precisely and how causes Patellar Tendinitis to occur. However, medical experts agree that repeated jumping and sprinting motions lead to the problem. Furthermore, the risk is higher if a person increases activity intensity or returns to the sport after a break (Cleveland Clinic, 2021). The analysis of medical literature reveals that being more than 40 years old, involving in sports at a professional level, and repeated jumping and sprinting contribute to an increased likelihood of suffering from Patellar Tendinitis (Cleveland Clinic, 2021). Thus, the at-risk population should understand that this issue can impact their health.
Healthcare providers should draw sufficient attention to ensure that they can identify Patellar Tendinitis. Diagnosing relies on investigating a patient’s medical history and asking about what symptoms they experience and whether they have changed over time. According to Cleveland Clinic (2021), a physical exam, ultrasound imaging, and MRI can help rule out other similar conditions and find that the patient has Patellar Tendinitis. Consequently, it is necessary to highlight that making a diagnosis is a challenging process.
In most cases, conservative therapy is sufficient to treat the condition under consideration. The specific recommendations include avoiding physical activities that result in knee pain, resting for as long as possible, applying ice and pain relievers to reduce inflammation, and wearing a knee support device (Cleveland Clinic, 2021). I can state that better outcomes can be achieved if physical therapy is involved because it helps make the injured tissue stronger and more flexible. It is a rare occasion if these measures are helpless, but it is possible to have surgery to repair the damaged tissue.
It is challenging to state how long it takes to recover from Patellar Tendinitis. The actual period depends on the severity of the injury and how precisely a person follows a healthcare provider’s recommendations. For example, a few weeks can suffice to heal a mild injury, while a severe one can require up to a month (Cleveland Clinic, 2021). In any case, a better option is not to rush. Healthcare professionals stipulate that patients should be overcautious when recovering from Patellar Tendinitis. It is reasonable to spend a few more days without any activity to ensure that the injury disappeared.
However, I am sure that prevention is better than cure. That is why I would like to highlight specific activities that can help avoid Patellar Tendinitis. Firstly, it is necessary to ensure that all athletic shoes, clothes, and devices fit body type and size. Secondly, it is not allowed to underestimate the significance of the warmup. Athletes should invest sufficient time and effort in this activity to ensure that they prepare their muscles for further load. Finally, at least 5-minute stretching makes muscles and tendons more elastic, which prevents them from injuries and other problems. These simple steps can significantly reduce the probability of suffering from Patellar Tendinitis.
In conclusion, I can state that many professional athletes, including basketball players, are not insured against Patellar Tendinitis. That is why people involved in professional sports should know what this injury is and how it develops. The information about diagnosing, treating, and preventing the condition is also essential to help individuals manage it. If I had known these data before, I would have managed to protect myself against the Jumper’s Knee. That is why I would like to help others avoid making my mistakes.
Reference
Cleveland Clinic. (2021). Patellar Tendonitis. Web.