How long does it take for patellar tendonitis to heal?

If you’ve developed patellar tendonitis, you’re in for a long journey. And by “long”, we mean feeling like it’s the beginning of time and the end is nowhere in sight. But fear not, dear reader! We have dug deep into this question – scraping past all the generic ‘tips’ floating around online and coming up with some real knowledge that might give you hope.

Let’s take a look at what this injury actually is before jumping into how long it takes to recover.

What Exactly is Patellar Tendonitis?

Alright, so there are two types of people reading this:
1. You know exactly what patellar tendonitis is
2. You don’t…but pretending in hopes that others won’t notice

In case you fall under category 2 (we see you) or just need a refresher- patellar tendonitis involves an inflammation & degeneration within your quadriceps/patella (knee cap) tendons. It literally means ‘inflammation in/around the kneecap‘ (pretty self-explanatory really). This can happen from overuse during activities such as running, squatting or volleyball jumps etc.

People suffering from knee pain often burry their sorrows find solace on google search-and experts will tell you that pain experienced when running down stairs is typically caused by damage to these particular tendons.

Symptoms: Why Do I Feel Like my Knee Cap Has Betrayed Me?!

If those pesky little symptoms aren’t enough proof of any injury then I’m not sure what else would be… alas here they are:

  • Pain (chronic), even when doing simple tasks like walking upstairs.
  • Soreness below your kneecap.
  • Swelling flare-ups occasionally accompanied by warmth.

It’s tempting to not credit the knee at all with such a vast array of annoying symptoms, but trust us- this little body part is feeling like an enemy right now. You may have noticed difficulty & restriction in performing normal everyday tasks and workouts…or maybe it’s more intense than that? Regardless- we got you covered!

Why does Patellar Tendonitis Take so Long to Heal?

First off… rest assured, it’s not because the injury gods hate you. It takes long for patellar tendonitis to heal because essentially, they’re stubborn injuries that act out of pure revenge.

The structure of your tendons makes them particularly hard to repair; specifically it is due to limited blood supply reaching your quadriceps/patella which slows down any healing process tremendously (slow clap).

Additionally – overuse from running or playing sport can cause prolonged wear-and-tear on these areas making things trickier still! But don’t fret just yet – there are ways around speeding up recovery somewhat…

Treatments: What Can I do to Speed Things Along?

You’ve gotta treat this issue as a serious thing (sorry couch potato excuse givers) otherwise you won’t get far down the road towards full rehabilitation.

Getting physiotherapy helps relieve pain by improving blood flow/structure strength while also helping fix patterns & misalignments in how you move/workout. Below is our curated “to-do” list:

  1. Rest and reduce physical activity
  2. Physiotherapy
  3. Ice the affected area
  4. Compression therapy
  5. Strengthening exercises

Now let’s dig into each option further:

Resting:

Sort of goes without saying but depending on the severity of your case completely switching things up routine-wise for some time might be essential for a faster relief outcome.

For those suffering from mild PTT (patellar tendonitis) cases (cue sad Kanye West music), rest and reduced physical activity can be enough to help the injury heal. This might be tough for athletic folks who are used to a high level of performance, but it’s necessary – give your knee some love.

Physiotherapy:

Physiotherapy is therapy specifically tailored towards muscle & joint health in order for them function optimally (& without hurt).Typically when you visit your physiotherapist, they’ll develop a personalised “game plan” in accordance with any particular goals/ambitions you have,taking into account how much time has passed since pain was first experienced etc..

If this option tickles your fancy we recommend checking with accredited bodies that certify physios (as opposed to throwing caution into the wind) just so you get quality treatment options ()

Resting AND Physiotherapy :

In case of more severe cases -rest alone may not suffice and even after resting if symptoms persist-physio will become another key factor in getting better.

Nearing Recovery: How Long Does it Take?

Alrighty- now comes the million-dollar question…show me the money!

Recovery times differ per patient; depending on severity/treatment undertaken / individual recovery rate. On average though…

For mild and moderate PTT:

  • About 6 weeks of physio
  • Able return to sports/workouts at around month mark (sometimes longer).

When things take a turn for worse:

This scenario could lead up to surgery being performed – most effectively patellar decompression technique– ultimately leading up again between six months/a year total rehab timeline.

To put it bluntly then? The road back from Patellar tendonitis ain’t no walk through flowers, friends! Dedication should come first right along side perseverance as prime qualities during such surgical recoveries like these.

Summer anthems whilst lying down soaking up those healing rays outside…. anyone?

Final Thoughts and Tips

Overall then,patellar tendonitis is kind of a pain in the… well,you know. It’s something that requires persistence and TLC- not exactly easy for folks already used to high-level workouts.

Treatment options are available to speed up your recovery timeline though so don’t let hopelessness take over – we got this!

Just like any other rehab process,you’ll need patience/determination/optimism (maybe some Netflix too) but keep persevering because full recovery from Patellar Tendonitis is possible; somewhat miraculous even.


() admittedly less important than how spritely/talkative they might be during sessions -haha kidding(ish). But seriously fully check out credentials/licensures they acquire first-hand!


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