The UK’s Leading Orthopaedic Shockwave Clinic
Tel: 020 8549 6666
Patellar Tendinitis Shockwave Treatment
Patellar tendinitis can be a debilitating condition for men and women of all ages but especially athletes, causing excruciating pain for many of them and stopping them enjoying their sport. Whatever sport you play we recommend you visit us if you have any problems with one or both knees so that we can ascertain the problem and treat it quickly before your condition becomes chronic. Numerous clients of ours have overcome Patellar tendinitis in record time with focused Shockwave treatment plus Magneto transduction therapy enabling them to resume their sport with little delay.
Patellar tendinitis, also known as jumper’s knee, is a relatively common cause of pain in the inferior patellar region in people who partake in sports activities. Just because it is also known as ‘jumper’s knee’ other types of athletes are not immune from it! The signs and symptoms of patellar tendinitis are fairly easy to detect, patients frequently complain of:
- Pain in the area of the tendon
- ‘Tightness’ in the knee
- Subtle swelling of the tendon
- Pain early into or after a training session or workout
- ‘Squeaking’ in the tendon
Patellar tendinitis is usually caused by repetitive overloading of the extensor mechanism of the knee and is particularly seen in in younger people. Some of the common factors associated with the condition are:
- A rapid increase in the frequency or intensity of training
- Transition from one training method to another
- Repeated training on a hard surface
- Improper mechanics during training
- Genetic abnormalities of the knee joint
- Poor base strength of the quad muscles
Rehabilitation Programs
These generally include:
- Non-impact aerobic conditioning
- Flexibility training for quadriceps and hamstring muscle groups
- The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications
- Cryotherapy – ice massage or ice packs
- Strengthening exercises, such as leg press, side step-ups and mini squats
Shockwave Therapy & Patellar Tendinitis
Patients who have suffered from patellar tendinitis for some time and also those that have only recently shown the symptoms, can often make a faster recovery and return to their sport or exercise regime by undergoing shock wave therapy.
In independent research published by The American Journal of Sports Medicine – shock wave therapy appeared to be more effective and safer than traditional conservative treatments in the management of patients with chronic patellar tendinopathy and reboot the body’s natural healing process.
We find with our patients that they are often unable to complete physiotherapy successfully and gain rehabilitation. The Shockwave treatment reduces the symptoms of the injury, often reducing pain by the second or third treatment, reducing stress and recovering.
During treatment our therapist will ensure that any discomfort is kept to a minimum. The shockwave probe will be placed over the affected area and the impulses gradually increased during which a little pain may be felt. Following treatment, you may experience a tingling feeling and very little pain that will quickly subside.
We now use castor oil, rather than gel or petroleum jelly as the medium between the shockwave equipment and the patient for many of our shockwave procedures. We have found that the little pain that our patients feel is reduced when we use castor oil, and we believe that the shockwaves reach the areas needing treatment more effectively. You can find out more about this, if you wish, by reading our news item Castor Oil versus Gel in Shockwave Therapy.
EMTT Therapy for Patellar Tendinitis
Additionally, we now also recommend EMTT therapy in conjunction with Shockwave therapy as we have had excellent outcomes using this treatment on our Patellar Tendinitis clients as we have found that a combination of the treatments often accelerates recovery. We are one of the few clinics in the UK offering this treatment so if you are in pain we recommend you contact us sooner rather than later.
To book treatment for Patellar tendinitis please request a specialist clinician to call you back to arrange an initial assessment Tel: 020 8549 6666 or complete the Contact Form below.
Our reception lines are open from 8:30am to 8:00pm weekdays and between 10:00am and 4:00pm at weekends (excluding Christmas, New Year and Bank Holidays).