Knee Tendinitis and Knee Injuries
Posted: Tuesday, May 13, 2008
by Edward Holtman, D.C.
Tendons and Ligaments: "The knee bone is connected to…."
There is an abundance of tendons and ligaments in and around the human knee joint. Examples are: the deep joint cruciate ligaments (and cruciate cartilages) as well as the more superficial anterior (front) patellar ligament and tendon to the lateral collateral ligaments to the posterior (back) hamstring tendons.
Sports and Work Activities
During spring baseball training, you will notice that baseball players
will perform leg muscle stretching exercises before the season begins. This helps to avoid sudden leg muscle cramps during a game. It also helps to avoid "pulling" (straining) and tearing of a muscle.
Because of the abundance of tendons, ligaments, and cartilage, the knee joint is well protected against destabilization (injury), especially from the front or rear. But it is vulnerable to injury from the inside and outside (left and right).
This fact would place football on the top of the list for knee injuries. Other activities that put the knee at risk are:
1) Football
2) Martial Arts
3) Basketball
4) Baseball,
5) Racquetball
6) Handball
7) Squash
8) Wrestling
9) Rock Climbing
10) Tennis
11) Roofing
12) Floor Installation (Carpet, Linoleum, etc.)
13) Factory Work
These same activities can give rise to knee tendinitis. Any or all of the knee tendons and ligaments can be involved, but the most common form of knee tendinitis is patellar tendinitis.
Patellar tendinitis is unique, because the upper tendon (which attaches to the rectus femoris muscle above and the lower ligament (attaches to the tibia below) both work together at their location and their function. This means that what affects one, affects the other.
Even if only one tendon is painful, both tendon and ligament must be treated as through they are one. Not every health professional knows this! Nevertheless, if both tendon and ligament are treated rather than one or the other, much better results will ensue!
Knee Cartilage; Problems and Treatment Approach
Regarding the knee cartilages, different problems require different approaches. If the cartilage is cracked or severely worn, surgery may be necessary. Yet I have known some individuals who are "living with" severely worn cartilages.
I think surgeons are reluctant to operate if the patient is obese. I have also experienced a negative outcome when both knees are operated on at the same time. When one cartilage is involved, orthotics might help
What Can Be Done?
Before surgery is given serious consideration, home therapy is highly recommended. Specific exercises, proper use of heat and cold, supplementation, and home physical therapy can, and should, be instituted, because the conservative approach could be more beneficial to the patient than surgery.
For more information on this and other tendinitis, refer to http://www.TendonRelief.com.
Dr. Edward G. Holtman, D.C. has had 48 years experience in the chiropractic field and 18 years specializing in the local, national, and international treatment of tendinitis.
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