Patellar tip syndrome symptoms

Synonyms

Osteopathia patellae, Jumper knees, Sinding-Larsen's disease

introduction

The Patellar tip syndrome is a Overload response of the kneecap extensor. There is a chronic degenerative change in the patellar tendon. The tendon is i.a. necessary to straighten the knee while jumping and to catch jumps again. This is why the patellar tip syndrome is also known as the "jumper's knee". It's commonly seen in people who sports how volleyball, Basketball, Soccer or athletics where a lot of jumping or a heavy load is exerted on the knee joint.

Symptoms

In the patellar tip syndrome, the main symptom is exercise-related pain, which those affected describe at the lower edge of the patella. The symptoms are often persistent and drag on for months or years. The intensity of the symptoms can vary.
Depending on the stage of the disease, the pain can appear at the beginning of the movement and disappear again after warming up, or it can be felt during the entire exercise period.
In addition to the pain, there may also be swelling of the knee. This usually occurs at or below the kneecap. Patellar tendon syndrome affects both knees in 20-30% of those affected.
The pain in patellar tip syndrome can be divided into different stages (I-IV) depending on how it occurs.

You might also be interested in: Pain in the patellar tendon

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Pain

Of the pain is found in patellar tip syndrome at the lower end of the kneecap (patella). Pain can occur in different situations. These often occur as pain when climbing stairs or going downhill, during the warm-up phase when doing sports or after exercise. Pain can also generally be felt when walking. The symptom of pain in the patellar tip syndrome is in four levels divided (according to Roels et al):

• Grade I.: The pain occurs after an exercise (for example, after running).
• Grade II: Here the pain can be felt at the beginning of the load (for example you start walking with pain). This pain improves or disappears completely after the warm-up phase. After the exercise, however, the pain returns with the same intensity.
• Grade III: The pain is constant, regardless of whether you are walking, sitting or standing.
• Grade IV: In the fourth stage is the Torn patellar tendon. There is severe pain and a sudden loss of strength, whereby the knee joint can no longer be stretched without e.g. to use hands to help.

Climb stairs

If the tendon has already undergone severe degenerative changes, everyday stresses, even if these are only of short duration, lead to pain in the knee. At the Climb stairs complaints usually only arise at an advanced stage. Here, the affected person feels the pain at the lower end of the kneecap when climbing or descending the stairs. As soon as the strain ends, the pain subsides again. When running stairs is that Pull on the patellar tendon especially strong thereby causing pain. In advanced and chronic conditions, constant complaints can occur, which means that the pain often persists even after climbing stairs.

Squats

At the Squats there is actually no pain in the case of patellar tip syndrome, as this involves other muscle groups. However, there are exceptions here too, and pain can be felt when flexing. However, it mainly occurs with the counter-movement, i.e. with Stand up from the crouch, to Pain. This involves stretching the knee using the thigh muscle and the patellar tendon.

What can I do about patellar tip syndrome?

If patellar tip syndrome is suspected, an orthopedic surgeon should be seen. In addition, a Training break inserted to avoid serious damage. In general, exercise should be sufficient Thigh muscle stretching be respected.
The pain can also be medicated Painkillers how Ibuprofen or Diclofenac will be dampened. Cooling also helps against the swelling. The affected knee can also be tapped, which stabilizes the patella and relieves pain.

Read more about this under Taping patellar tip syndrome

If the symptoms of the patellar tip syndrome are more advanced, physiotherapy (ultrasound and electrical stimulation) should be carried out.