Five Questions Soccer Players Should Ask Their Physician For Patellar Tendinitis

Ask these questions at your appointment to make sure you’re getting all the facts.

The smell of the grass on the field, the feel of the wind rushing past you as you run, the joy of a game well played, the comradery of the team: all these things make you love soccer. Professional or hobbyist, soccer players are serious athletes, and as such, you need to keep your body in peak physical condition. Unfortunately, sometimes even minor injuries can keep you on the sidelines, especially if they involved your knees.

Athletes with “jumper’s knee” suffer from an inflammation of the tendon that connects the kneecap (patella) to the shinbone (tibia). If you’re having pain and inflammation in your knee, it may be time to talk to a physician for patellar tendinitis treatment. Rothman Orthopaedic Institute’s Sports Medicine physicians see cases like yours every day, and to prepare for your visit, they recommend you review these five questions to ask your doctor prior to your appointment.

Checking Your Symptoms:

Before you make your appointment to see a physician for patellar tendinitis, take a look at your symptoms. You may be suffering from jumper’s knee if you have:

• pain in your knee, especially when you touch just below your kneecap.

• redness around your knee.

• swelling in the joint.

• pain when running, jumping, or walking.

• pain that increases when you walk downhill or down stairs.

Questions to Ask Your Physician for Patellar Tendinitis

When you head for your appointment, keep these questions in mind. They may help you better understand your doctor’s recommendations, as well as make it easier for your doctor to communicate with you about your condition.

1. Is my pain caused by patellar tendinitis, or is another condition to blame?

It’s always important to clearly understand your diagnosis when dealing with any health issue, and this one is no different. There are several structures in the knee that can cause pain and swelling, so you need to make sure you understand exactly what your doctor is diagnosing you with. Many knee injuries require the same treatments, but it’s still good to ask for specifics.

2. What caused my patellar tendinitis?

Your doctor may not be able to pinpoint an exact cause, but she can ask questions about your body mechanics to try to get a better idea of what’s making your patellar tendon inflamed. Often, this condition is caused by overuse of the knee or poor technique. In addition, people with wide hips, knocked knees, flat feet or collapsing arches are more prone to patellar tendinitis. If this is the case for you, your doctor may be able to teach you some techniques to compensate for your natural way of moving. Your physician for patellar tendinitis may also prescribe orthotic shoe inserts to eliminate foot structure issues contributing to your knee pain.

3. Can I treat my condition at home?

In most cases, your patellar tendonitis treatment will start with rest, ice, over the counter pain medication, and potentially a knee brace or patellar tendinitis patellar tendon strap to relieve some of the stress on the tendon itself. Many athletes find that these steps are sufficient to relieve their symptoms over a matter of weeks, but in some cases, your doctor may recommend other treatments.

4. What are my treatment options if my condition doesn’t improve with these measures?

Patellar tendinitis sometimes requires medical treatment beyond rest and ice. If that is the case for you, your doctor may recommend either a steroid injection or a newer treatment called platelet rich plasma therapy. Platelet rich plasma therapy uses your own blood, processed to concentrate the platelets, to induce faster healing in your knee.

5. When can I get back out on the field?

Every injury is unique, so you’ll need to keep in touch with your doctor in order to know when you’re ready to head back out on the soccer field. At your initial visit, however, your physician for patellar tendinitis should be able to give you a ballpark estimate of your recovery time.

>At Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, our sports medicine doctors specialize in helping athletes like you stay in the action. For more information about patellar tendinitis, or to schedule an appointment, visit us here or contact us at 1-800-321-9999.