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Patellar Physical Therapy: How it Can Help, Exercises, and More

Patellar tendonitis is nothing to take lightly. Anyone who has experienced it knows that the pain is undeniable.  Movements as simple as bending or straightening your leg can cause agony. It can leave you wincing every time you run, jump, or even simply walk. No matter how hard you may try, you cannot ignore the swelling and tenderness for long. It won’t simply go away on its own. But, there is hope. Physical therapy can help. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about patellar tendonitis rehab—from particular exercises you should be doing to how the right physical therapists can best help you heal so you can get back to doing the things you love to do.

Table of Contents

What Is Patellar Tendonitis?

Patellar tendonitis, commonly referred to as jumper’s knee, is a knee injury characterized by inflammation or injury to the patellar tendon, which connects your shinbone to your knee cap.  This condition weakens the patellar tendon and can result in tears if left untreated.

What Causes Patellar Tendonitis?

Patellar tendonitis is a type of knee injury that results from overuse. It usually occurs when repeated activities such as running, jumping, or frequently changing direction gradually damage the knee.  While anyone can suffer from jumper’s knee, it occurs most often in athletes who participate in sports with a lot of jumping, such as basketball or volleyball.  Some of the most common risk factors include: 

  • Repetitive stress 
  • Frequent jumping
  • Uneven leg muscle strength
  • Playing on hard surfaces
  • Tight leg muscles
  • Muscular imbalance of the legs, feet, or ankles

Symptoms of Patellar Tendonitis

The primary symptom of patellar tendonitis is tenderness and/or pain between the kneecap and the shin.  The area directly around your knee may feel stiff or tight. Occasionally your knee joint will also become swollen. Initially, the pain is typically exercise-induced, becoming worse with continued activity.  Movements that can intensify your pain include:

  • Running
  • Jumping
  • Squatting

As the condition worsens, you may find that the pain begins to interfere with your daily life, resulting from activities such as walking up and down the stairs or rising from a chair.

Physical Therapy for Patellar Tendonitis: How Can it Help?

When overseen by a licensed professional and performed correctly, physical therapy can be highly beneficial to those suffering from patellar tendonitis.  With a wide range of treatment types to choose from, physical therapy can offer help with:

  • Increasing your range of motion
  • Strengthening weak thigh muscles to reduce the strain on your patellar tendon
  • Providing more muscular balance
  • Reducing muscle spasms
  • Increasing balance and coordination

If you suffer from patellar tendonitis and think you’d benefit from any of these, PRO~PT can help.  Contact us today to see how you’d benefit from patellar tendonitis physical therapy treatment.

Acute Injury: Patellar Tendonitis Physical Therapy

An acute injury to the patellar tendon typically occurs when inflammation is caused by a sudden and direct injury.  Acute injuries do not always result in surgery. In fact, even if you’ve been diagnosed with a patellar tendon tear, physical therapy may be very beneficial for you.  While physical therapy will not heal the tear, it can help:

  • Joint mobility
  • Improve blood circulation
  • Reduce pain
  • Maintain muscle strength

Chronic Injury: Patellar Tendonitis Physical Therapy (and Other Chronic Conditions)

Chronic patellar tendonitis is a very common injury seen in up to 22% of athletes, plaguing up to 32% of basketball players and 44% of all volleyball players.  This overuse condition often results from elite-level athletes being encouraged to push past the pain and can take several months to heal.  Rather than pursuing surgical routes, most patients experiencing patellar tendonitis are treated with rehabilitation protocols and functional progression.    Some common chronic patellar tendonitis rehab exercises include:

  • Stretching lower extremity muscles
  • Stationary cycling
  • Deep tissue massage
  • Quadricep strengthening exercises
  • Hip strengthening exercises

Physical Therapy After Patellar Tendonitis Surgery

Occasionally, patellar tendonitis can be so severe that surgery becomes the only option. Whether you have a full rupture or a partial patellar tendon tear, physical therapy, following surgery is often the final piece in your recovery puzzle.  Patellar tendonitis post-op care usually progresses through phases, with each one centering around different rehabilitation goals:

  • Phase I
    1. Usually lasting from surgery date to 2 weeks post-op.
    2. Focuses on protecting the surgical repair through the use of crutches and a brace locking the knee in extension.
  • Phase II
    1. Usually occurs during post-op weeks 2-6.
    2. Focuses on gradually improving the gait through continued use of the brace and limited use of crutches. 
  • Phase III
    1. Usually occurs during post-op weeks 6-12.
    2. Focuses on gradually progressing to weight-bearing movement without crutches and limited brace usage.
  • Phase IV
    1. Usually occurs during post-op months 3-4.
    2. Focuses on normalizing gait and establishing a full range of motion without the use of a brace.
  • Phase V
    1. Usually begins during post-op month 4 lasting until no longer needed.
    2. Focuses on restoring full control and movement, including impact, without pain.

How Do You Do Physical Therapy for Patellar Tendonitis?

Patellar tendonitis is a condition that can negatively impact an individual’s quality of life by limiting mobility and movement.  In most cases, physical therapy is the primary treatment method chosen to treat this ailment.   Patella tendonitis rehab should focus on strengthening the many muscles that cross and surround the knee joint. 

What Does Patellar Tendonitis Physical Therapy Protocol Look Like?

While the specific PT exercises for patellar tendonitis will vary depending on the severity of the injury, most protocols will include:

  • A thorough examination of the injury
  • An assessment of the patient’s goals
  • Creation of an individualized treatment plan
  • Performance of specific exercises aimed at improving movement and reducing pain

4 Common Patellar Tendonitis Physical Therapy Exercises

Wondering what some of the most common physical therapy exercises for patellar tendonitis might be? The most common exercises used in knee tendonitis treatment and rehabilitation plans include eccentric quadriceps exercise. The frequency, intensity, and duration of each exercise should be adjusted based on the individual and the severity of the injury.  As with all medical conditions, it’s important not to attempt any PT exercises without first consulting with a physical therapist and developing an individualized treatment plan.

#1: Drop-Squats

A drop squat is a calisthenic exercise that primarily strengthens the quads, while also targeting the hamstrings, hip flexors, and glutes. How to perform a drop squat:

  1. Stand straight with your feet about shoulder-width apart.
  2. Move from this standing position into a squat as quickly as possible.
  3. When squatting, your knees should form a 90-degree angle and your arms should extend forward.
  4. Hold the squat for 1-2 seconds and then return to the starting position.
  5. Repeat for 3 sets of 10 repetitions.

#2: Seated Knee Extensions

Seated knee extensions are great for keeping your knee joints healthy while strengthening your quadriceps, hamstrings, and hip muscles.  In order to execute a seated knee extension, you should:

  1. Sit straight up with your back against a chair, your feet flat on the ground, and your knees bent at 90-degree angles.
  2. Raise your left leg by extending your knee until you reach terminal knee extension.
  3. Lower your leg by bending your knee until it reaches a 90-degree angle and your foot rests flat on the floor.
  4. Repeat 10 times and then switch legs.
  5. Complete 3 sets of 10 repetitions per leg.

#3: Standing Leg Curls

Standing leg curls help to build thigh strength while also increasing your overall balance.  Standing leg curls can be performed by:

  1. Stand straight with your feet about shoulder-width apart.
  2. Slightly bend both knees while engaging your core. 
  3. Lift your left foot toward your glutes by bending your left knee.
  4. Hold for 5 seconds.
  5. Lower your leg back to your starting position.
  6. Repeat 10 times and then switch legs.
  7. Complete 3 sets of 10 repetitions per leg.

#4: Cardio

Athletes should maintain their cardiovascular fitness when participating in a physical therapy regime. However, due to the nature of the injury, the types of cardio exercises chosen should place lower loads on the tendon.  Some good cardio options that won’t aggravate patellar tendonitis include:

  • Cycling
  • Swimming
  • Water aerobics
  • Pool running

How Long Is Physical Therapy for Patellar Tendonitis?

The length of time needed to rehab patellar tendonitis will vary by patient, based on factors such as:

  • The patient’s overall health and physical fitness level
  • The nature of the patient’s surgical procedures, if any
  • The severity of the injury
  • The goals of the patient
  • The patient’s adherence to the treatment plan

Even though you may begin to feel better after only a few weeks, it is important that you continue treatment until you’ve been released by your physical therapist. Because patellar tendonitis is an overuse injury, recurrence of the injury is very likely if you end physical therapy before you’ve fully healed.

Can Patellar Tendonitis Physical Therapy Prevent Re-Injury?

Without question, undergoing physical therapy treatment for your patellar tendonitis will absolutely help to prevent re-injury. During your PT sessions, your physical therapist will guide you through performing specially selected exercises and stretches which will slowly increase the flexibility and strength of your damaged tendon. Essentially, the goals of physical therapy are two-fold. First, PT aims to manage your symptoms and provide immediate relief from the pain associated with patellar tendonitis. Secondly, patellar tendonitis rehab also works to help improve functionality and strengthen the affected area to prevent re-injury in the future.

The Licensed Physical Therapists at Pro~PT Are Here for Your Patellar Physical Therapy Needs

The licensed physical therapists at PRO~PT specialize in providing high-quality, personalized therapy for patellar tendonitis.  During your initial consultation, your dedicated therapist will evaluate your:

  • Pain level
  • Presence of swelling or inflammation
  • Muscle strength
  • Reflexes
  • Posture

Your therapist will then use this information to formulate a treatment plan that is personalized to you and your specific condition to help you return to your best quality of life. Don’t spend another day experiencing pain that prevents you from living your best life.  Our staff is ready to help you reclaim your life—schedule an appointment today!

Categories: Knee Problems• August 9, 2021