The knee is such a small part of our bodies, but it is one of the most prone to injury. From bone damage, to ligament tears and tendon injuries, there is just so much that can go wrong. The tendons connect surrounding tissue and muscle of the knee. They help to give us movement by connecting our hamstring muscle which allows us the ability to bend our knee back. They can be injured from over use of the knee joint, most often in sports and work-related injuries.
Injuries
The most common knee injury is tendonitis. Tendonitis occurs when there is a overuse of the joint, causing inflammation and pain. It happens most often in those who jump a lot and cause extra shock and stress to the knees. Basketball players and workers in certain injuries are prone to tendonitis of the knee.
Syndromes and Diseases
Besides tendonitis there are some diseases and syndromes that affect the tendons in the knee.
- Osgood-Sch-latter Disease – This happens when the tendon tears away from the bone taking tissue with it. It can be caused by excess stress on top of the shin bone. It occurs most often in those who run and jump a lot such as track and field athletes.
- Iliotibial Band Syndrome – When the tendon in the knee runs over the outer part of the knee cap you get this syndrome. It is caused by overuse of the knee joint typically during sports training.
Treatment
The most common treatments for any tendon injuries are rest, ice, and elevation of the leg. Also, anti-inflammatory medications like aspirin or ibuprofen can be used to relieve the pain and swelling. The main goal is to reduce the inflammation so that the knee can begin to work like normal again.
In some severe cases of injury to the tendon, a cast would be used to stabilize the knee and give support during recovery. On occasion surgery has to be performed to repair any severe damage to the tendons.
Interested in more information on knee pain and injuries? Read our FREE report – The Disability Guys’ Guide to Your Knees.
