Tendonitis is the inflammation of the tendon. Knee tendonitis therefore refers to damage to the tendons that make up the knee. Detailed definition, symptoms and treatment.
Tendinitis: what is it exactly?
A short lesson in express medicine. Before explaining what tendinitis is, we must first zoom in on the tendons. Tendons are like ‘ropes’ made up of collagen fibers that serve to attach muscles to bones – for example, the quadriceps muscle to the femur in the thigh region.
What is tendonitis? We talk about tendinitis (some doctors say rather “tendinopathy”) to designate inflammation localized to a tendon. If this inflammation can be linked to many causes (a disease: scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis; a drug treatment: anabolic steroids…) in most cases, tendinitis has a mechanical origin.
Explanation from the pro: ” prolonged bad posture (for example: the waiter who holds his tray in the air all day, the office worker who works for hours in front of the computer without resting his elbow on the desk, the painter who keeps his arm constantly in the air…), micro-traumas (for example: the tennis player who constantly inflicts vibrations on his elbow) or even the repetition of the same gesture (for example: the cashier who passes items all day) may result in tendonitis ” develops Adrien Ezine, osteopath.
To know : the most frequent tendinitis is that of the shoulder (“golf elbow” in golfers), the Achilles tendon, the knee (especially among cyclists), the elbow (“tennis elbow” in tennis), the wrist and hip.
Tendinitis of the knee: what are the symptoms?
To know. Tendonitis of the knee is inflammation of the tendons that attach to the knee bones – the tibia, femur and patella. There are therefore 3 types of tendinitis of the knee, depending on the tendon that is affected: patellar tendonitisthere crow’s feet tendonitis and the fascia lata tendonitis.
Tendinitis of the knee: who is affected? Knee tendinitis primarily affects athletes who regularly inflict micro-traumas on their knees: cyclists, runners, footballers, dancers, basketball players, handball players, skiers, skaters…
In addition, certain jobs and hobbies that require frequent knee flexion are also at risk: gardening, childcare, moving… It should be noted that being overweight (same for obesity) is a risk factor for tendinitis. of the knee.
Symptoms of knee tendinitis are:
- Knee pain at rest (especially when sitting) that gets worse with flexion (when trying to bend the knee) and when trying to move the joint (to drive, for example),
- Knee pain that can be sharp and wake you up during the night, or be duller and only appear when you are tired or after physical exertion,
- Knee stiffness, especially in the morning
- A swollen and/or red knee,
- Difficulty walking with a feeling of “weakness” in the knee,
- A knee that “creaks”.
Diagnosis: ultrasound, MRI…
Attention : ” if the pain is intense (that it prevents you from moving and/or that it wakes you up at night and/or that it prevents you from sleeping), make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible. No question of leaving it lying around at the risk of seeing complications appear ” advises Adrien Ezine.
Tendinitis of the knee, how is the diagnosis made? The diagnosis of knee tendinitis is made by the sports doctor, the general practitioner or the rheumatologist: it consists of a clinical examination, possibly supplemented by an X-ray, an ultrasound or an MRI examination.
Treatments: how to treat knee tendonitis?
In terms of “classic” medical treatment, the doctor may prescribe in particular:
- Relative rest: if there is no question of being stuck in bed, we will limit sports activities until complete recovery. A knee brace and/or crutches may be recommended,
- Medication non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to calm the inflammation of the tendon, in the form of tablets or cream,
- Painkillers to soothe the pain, generally,
- A infiltration corticosteroids on the surface of the tendons (subacromial infiltration) if the pain persists – this infiltration can be performed by the rheumatologist,
- Physiotherapy sessions.
The advice of the pro: ” in case of tendinitis of the knee, you need rest and good hydration. On the other hand, if the tendonitis comes back regularly, it may be worth consulting a physiotherapist and/or an osteopath for a complete check-up. “adds the osteopath.
Knee tendonitis: how to treat knee tendinitis naturally?
There cryotherapy
” Put an ice pack on the painful area for about 15 minutes every day to reduce the pain ” advises Adrien Ezine. A little tip: the bags of frozen peas mold well to the shape of the knee for maximum relief.
A massage with essential oils that soothes
Make a massage oil by mixing 1 drop of Wintergreen essential oil (Gaultheria fragrantissima Wall) in 4 drops of vegetable oil (sweet almond oil, for example). Then very gently massage the painful knee every day until improvement.
Anti-inflammatory and analgesic, the essential oil of fragrant Wintergreen is particularly indicated in case of tendonitis. However, it remains prohibited for pregnant women and children, as well as for people with eczema, asthma or an ulcer.
Source : The company of the senses
A cold clay poultice with willow
Prepare a willow decoction by pouring 1 tbsp. at s. of dried bark in a cup of cold water. Bring to the boil, let simmer for 15 minutes, filter and let cool in the refrigerator.
Pour into a large bowl 6 to 10 tbsp. at s. powdered green clay. Add the very cold decoction to it, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. Stop as soon as the dough is neither too runny nor too sticky. Spread this paste on the painful knee and cover with gauze. Leave on for at least 20 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water. Repeat 2 times a day.
The cold reduces the pain of tendonitis; the clay has a soothing, relaxing, remineralizing and alkalizing action; willow is analgesic – here is a complete treatment!
thanks to Adrien Ezineosteopath in Bry-sur-Marne.
To read : The guide to natural painkillers, Dr. Yann Rougier and Marie Borrel, ed. Leduc.S
Read also :
⋙ 2 solutions to relieve tendonitis
⋙ What should I do if I have tendonitis?
⋙ Bursitis or bursitis: where does this inflammation come from and how to treat it?