Patellar tendinitis is also known as jumper's knee. This is a condition that affects a lot of athletes. While there isn't any specific cause of this condition, it is believed that a combination of factors contribute to it. According to the Mayo Clinic, muscular imbalance, tight muscles, being overweight and the intensity of training are all contributing factors of patellar tendinitis. Regardless of the contributing factors, the symptoms of this condition are usually universal.
Pain
The first and most usual symptom of patellar tendinitis is pain under or around the kneecap. When the condition first starts, this pain may only be noticeable after working out or walking long distances. As the condition progresses, it may become more and more difficult to move your knee at all. Walking up and down stairs may be excruciating.
Stiffness
At times, a knee that is affected by this condition may feel stiff. This is often likened to the difficulty experienced when trying to move an arthritic joint. For the most part, this symptom can be minimized through ice massage. However, some doctors will recommend heat if there isn't a lot of inflammation.
Squeaking
When trying to move your knee, you may notice that it makes a squeaky noise or that you have a squeaky feeling. Flexibility exercises and range of motion exercises can be used to reduce this symptom. In some cases, strengthening exercises can help this symptom.
Balance Problems
If you have patellar tendinitis, you may experience trouble balancing. This is usually caused by trying to keep pressure off the affected knee. However, if both knees are affected by the condition, balancing becomes difficult because of weakness in the knees.
Sleeplessness
Patellar tendinitis usually causes sleepless nights. This is partially due to the painful throbbing in the knee. However, because this condition is sometimes treated with steroids to reduce the swelling in the area, the sleeplessness may be caused by those. Another reason for the sleeplessness is the physical therapy exercises that are done before going to bed, which may energize you.
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