Patellar Tendonitis Treatment Specialists in NJ

Any combination of the following increases your chances of needing patellar tendonitis treatment:

• Tight muscles in the front or back of your thigh
• Physical activities such as jumping or running
• Changing your running shoes
• Suddenly increasing the length of your run
• Being taller or heavier than the norm
• Chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, lupus, kidney failure, or rheumatoid arthritis
• Young, active individuals in their teens, 20s, and 30s who play hard and sometimes push through pain and discomfort
• Athletes who concentrate on strengthening only specific muscles in their legs, neglecting others, and causing an imbalance

Treatment options include:

• Rest and activity modification to reduce the cause of patellar tendon tears, giving your body the chance to heal
• Ice to reduce inflammation and numb pain
• Medications, such as over-the-counter pain relievers or short-term prescription medication, to control pain symptoms
• Assistive devices like a knee brace to protect the tendon from further tearing and provide added support, or crutches along with the brace to keep your weight entirely off the affected knee until it heals
• Physical therapy techniques such as strengthening exercises to adjust any muscle imbalances, stretching exercises to increase flexibility, iontophoresis that pushes topical medication into your skin via electrical stimulation, or a patellar tendon strap that redistributes the forces exerted on the patella tendon and gives it extra support
• Injections that may include corticosteroids for inflammation, pain-relievers, or platelet-rich plasma to promote the growth of new tissue and accelerate healing
• Outpatient surgical procedures using an oscillating needle to carefully cut away damaged tissue while preserving the healthy areas of the tendon
• Surgical options that remove damaged tissue from the tendon and help reduce problematic scarring that binds or aggravates patellar tears