Alternative Medicine for Quadriceps Patellar Tendonitis

Quadriceps patellar tendonitis, also known as jumper's knee, is extremely common among athletes, especially those competing in basketball, soccer, volleyball or competitive running. Jumper's knee is caused by overuse of the tendons in the knee, commonly associated with intensive running and jumping, frequent starting and stopping while running and repeated impact to the knee. While surgery is sometimes required to reduce inflammation or remove fluid from the tendon, there are many alternatives to treat quadriceps patellar tendonitis.

Basic Treatments

• As with any injury, the best treatment for quadriceps patellar tendonitis is rest. Stop all intensive running, jumping and other sports activities while you are treating the tendonitis. Continued aggravating activity will increase pain, inflammation and time needed to treat the tendonitis.

  Anti-inflammatory medications that do not contain steroids can help to relieve pain and swelling during your recovery period. These medicines include ibuprofen, acetaminophen, naproxen or aspirin. Take these medications as directed by your doctor or by product instructions to reduce inflammation, thus relieving pain and decreasing recovery time.

  Apply an ice pack or other cold pack to your knee for 15 to 20 minutes every four hours, at least twice per day. Ice will decrease the inflammation in the tendon, thus reducing pain and healing time. Remember to always wrap the ice or cold pack in a towel or other fabric, because applying it directly to the skin can burn more than heal.

Extracorporeal Shockwave Treatment

• This treatment is designed by doctors to be used as an alternative to surgery for patients who have had extended periods of pain and swelling and have not responded to more conservative treatments. Shockwave treatment does not include incisions, which makes a lot of people feel safer using this rather than surgery. The treatment delivers high-frequency sounds waves to the tendon area, which creates small traumas within the tendon and the muscle. Though causing no permanent damage, these traumas promote the body's natural repair instincts, speeding up the healing process.

  Please note that the Food and Drug Administration has not yet approved extracorporeal shockwave treatment as a viable treatment for quadriceps patellar tendonitis in America. This option should be considered only in severe cases as an alternative to surgery. Discuss all options with your doctor before making a decision.

Warnings

• If the pain and inflammation have not disappeared after about two weeks of treatment, consult your doctor about the injury. Your doctor may suggest certain types of physical therapy, cortisone shots for support of the tendon or even surgery if the injury is bad enough.

  If the treatments do prove effective, return to physical activity gradually. If you notice that the swelling has disappeared and you can bend the knee without pain, increase daily activity in increments. Walk more, try jumping or jogging a little, but always pay attention to your body. If there is pain during any activity, do not attempt to repeat it, as you can aggravate the injury even more.