Quadriceps Tendonitis (Tendinitis)

Quadriceps tendonitis (also spelled tendinitis) is a painful condition affecting the quadriceps tendon above the kneecap. The quadriceps group of muscle is the largest in the front of the thigh and is very important for stabilizing the leg. The group of muscles are individually called the vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius, vastus medialis and the overlying rectus femoris. The quadriceps tendon connects the quadriceps to the shin bone (tibia) via the patellar tendon, which encases the knee cap itself. The process known as the quadriceps mechanism involves the patella (knee cap), the patella tendon, the quadriceps and its tendon. They all work together to extend the leg to straight.

Quadriceps tendonitis is caused by repetitive use of this tendon. This condition is most common in an athlete who is in involved in sports that require lots of jumping such as basketball, volleyball and jogging, or in a sport that requires a lot of stopping and starting. Little tears in the tendon and tendon sheath will present as pain and inflammation if these tears are not allowed to heal with rest.

Inflammation in the quadriceps tendon is often due to irritation and/or micro-tearing of the collagen fibers. When the fibers tear, they become weaker, inflamed and swollen causing pain and tenderness in the area.

There are 2 types of tendonitis, acute and chronic. Acute quadriceps tendonitis refers to inflammation that comes on suddenly, usually from a tendon strain or overloading it during exercise. Chronic quadriceps tendonitis occurs over time and generally results from long term repetitive use of the quadriceps tendon.

With both types of tendinitis, scar tissue develops on the tendon as the tears begin to heal. This scar tissue mends the tears in an abnormal way leaving the collagen fibers weaker and more prone to further injury. In the case of chronic quadriceps tendinitis, a build up of scar tissue over a long period of time will make the tendon and the entire knee joint more prone to re-injury.

Other conditions which can be a cause of anterior (front) knee pain are commonly confused with quadriceps tendonitis. These conditions include patellar tendonitis, synovial plicae, chondromalacia, patello-femoral subluxation and hyper-pressure, fat pad impingement or Hoffa's syndrome and patello-femoral arthritis.

Quadriceps Tendinitis Risk Factors

• Participating in "jumping" sports such as basketball, volleyball and jogging.
• Having diabetes, gout or para-hypothyroidism.
• Age can be a factor because as we grow older our tendons become more brittle and therefore prone to injury.
• Activities that require sharp, sudden changes of direction or lots of stopping and starting.
• Mis-alignment of the foot, ankle, and leg including flat feet, leg length discrepancy, tracking abnormalities, etc.

Quadriceps Tendonitis Symptoms

• Pain when tightening or flexing the quadriceps with a straight leg .
• Pain when the top of the kneecap is pressed.
• Irritation or pain when moving from a crouched position to a standing position.
• Stiffness or tightness the day following any activity or exercise that irritated the area.

Treating Quadriceps Tendinitis

The best way to treat quadriceps tendonitis is to start by resting your knee, especially avoiding the particular activity that produced the condition. Ultrasound treatment, regular cold compression wrap application, Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy, gentle stretching and physiotherapy are all helpful.

In the case of mild tendinitis, the body should be able to heal the tendon fibers normally with proper rest. Unfortunately, this is not the usual result, due to the injured tendon being used frequently in everyday activities.

Because of this stress on the quadriceps tendon, the body heals the injured fibers by binding them together with fibrotic adhesions, or scar tissue. This is a normal, protective response of the body, done in an attempt to prevent further damage to the injured area. Unfortunately, this leads to inflexibility in the knee and possibly chronic knee problems.

The trick to healing quadriceps tendonitis is getting it to heal with minimal scar tissue formation - something therapeutic ultrasound is great at! Even with optimum healing there is always less elasticity in a previously injured quadriceps tendon. You need to make sure you heal this as best you can- that way, your chance of re-injury and chronic knee problems down the road is much lower than average.

Cold Compression Therapy

Using cold compression to treat quadriceps tendinitis reduces pain, swelling, and tissue damage.

Cold Compression Therapy works by interrupting and slowing nerve and cell function in the damaged area. This is important because once blood vessels are damaged, they can no longer carry oxygenated blood to the quadriceps tendon and tissue cells begin to break-down. The Knee Freezie Wrap^® allows you to treat yourself in an effective and convenient way and rid yourself of the pain of quadriceps tendinitis above the knee.

The deep cold provided by the Knee Freezie Wrap^® slows cell function thereby reducing cellular break-down. Furthermore, because the cold wrap serve to numb the nerves, the wrap also reduces pain! The Knee Freezie Wrap^® uses a deep cold gel pack with a medical-grade neoprene compression cover to keep the ice off the skin preventing cryoburn and to surround your kneecap with soothing cold.

Ultrasound Therapy

Ultrasound Therapy increases tissue elasticity while promoting the flow of blood (filled with vital oxygen and nutrients) to your quadriceps tendon. This cleans the injured area by getting rid of damaged tissue and reducing the inflammation, opening up the blood vessels to begin healing.

During the healing process, scar tissue that builds on the quadriceps tendon can attach it to the patella (kneecap), femur, or other surrounding tissue in the joint, limiting the flexibility in your knee. Fortunately, you can treat quadriceps tendinitis with therapeutic ultrasound to soften scar tissue and improve your range of motion.

Not only does ultrasound aid in the duration of healing, but it helps to prevent long term complications. Pain, scar tissue, lack of mobility and arthritis are some of the more common long term complications from quadriceps tendonitis. By treating your tendon with ultrasound, scar tissue is softened reducing the risk of chronic problems in the future.

For those who suffer from the long term knee conditions of tendinosis, tenosynovitis or other injuries like ACL or meniscus tears, ultrasound can help. With dedication to your ultrasound therapy you can soften the tough and inelastic scar tissue that has built up on in your knee and regain the range of motion in your joint.

Ultrasound can also be used to administer therapeutic medicines into the body. This is a process known as phonophoresis. Ultrasound with phonophoresis is rapidly becoming more popular than ultrasound therapy alone.

Phonophoresis can be received using a MendMeShop^® Ultrasound Therapy System. The treatment is safe, easy, painless, and generally requires between 5 - 10 minutes.

Using the MendMeShop^® Lavender Infusion Gel during your ultrasound therapy gives you 2 therapies in 1. You get the benefit of the regenerating sound waves from the ultrasound device itself AND the added bonus of the therapeutic ingredients inside the gel being delivered into the tissue where it is most effective.

Lavender Infusion Ultrasound Gel contains the natural essential oils of Bulgarian lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus, and menthol and is exclusively available from MendMeShop^®. These ingredients reduce inflammation, relieve pain and improve blood circulation to your quadriceps tendon. 1 bottle of MendMeShop^® Lavender Infusion Ultrasound Gel comes FREE with every MendMeShop^® Ultrasound System so you get unbeatable ultrasound therapy for your injured quadriceps tendon.

Once the inflammation and swelling of quadriceps tendonoitis has been alleviated, nourishing and strengthening the tendon tissue in the knee is recommended. Using Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy will speed your recovery and heal your soft connective and muscular tissue more completely preparing your knee for strengthening exercises. Talk to your doctor or physical therapist to find out which exercises are appropriate for your situation.

Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy

After the inflammation and swelling above your kneecap and around your quadriceps tendon is reduced, you can begin to treat your entire knee with Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy, or BFST.

BFST increases the amount of blood that flows naturally to your knee to nourish your meniscal cartilage, tendons, ligaments and muscles and speed healing.

By treating yourself with Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy you can increase your body's blood supply to the knee and your body's natural healing power. In addition, the fresh blood flow whisks away dead cells and toxins that have built up from the tissue damage of quadriceps tendinitis leaving the area clean and able to heal faster.

The Knee Inferno Wrap^® provides the most effective, non-invasive, non-addictive pain relief and healing with no side effects. During your recovery, you will probably have to modify and/or eliminate any activities that cause pain or discomfort in your knee until your pain and inflammation settle. Taking the time to care for your knee properly will have your quadriceps tendon back to normal faster and allow you to get back to the activities you enjoy.

The more diligent you are with your treatment and rehabilitation, the faster you will see successful results! With these 3 easy therapies you will notice incredible results in your knee.

Remember: We recommend that you consult your doctor and/or physiotherapist before using any of our outstanding products, to make sure they're right for you and your condition.

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