What is Quadriceps Tendonitis?
Quadriceps tendonitis is a condition that involves inflammation or injury of the quadriceps tendon, not to be confused with patellar tendonitis. It is usually a common overuse injury in active individuals. The quadriceps muscles include the rectus femoris, vastus medialis, vastus intermedius, and vastus lateralis. Together, they work to straighten the knee and play a pivotal role in running, jumping, and squatting. However, when these muscles become overworked or are placed under excessive strain, they can damage the tendon fibers. This damage leads to inflammation, degeneration, and pain.
How Do Doctors Diagnose Quadriceps Tendonitis?
Diagnosis begins with a thorough history to understand the onset, duration, and nature of symptoms. Typically, these symptoms include tenderness above the kneecap, swelling, warmth to the touch, and stiffness. Additionally, pain worsens with physical activity, especially when extending the knee. Furthermore, movements like lunges and squats, where the knee flexes under load, can also exacerbate the symptoms.
In addition, doctors can utilize ultrasound and MRI imaging to evaluate the extent of tendon damage. Obtaining such imaging not only helps rule out other pathologies but also specifically addresses concerns such as patellar tendonitis and meniscus injuries.
How Can Physical Therapy Help?
Physical therapy serves as the first line of defense in preventing and treating quadriceps tendonitis. Specifically, treatments focus on reducing pain, improving function in the knee, and preventing recurrence. Here at Symmetry Physical Therapy, our doctors work one-on-one with each patient during every visit, without the involvement of students, assistants, or technicians. This approach allows us to develop a personalized plan of care tailored to individual needs.
Below is a list of advanced treatments and techniques our physical therapists offer at Symmetry Physical Therapy.
Treatments:
- Dry Needling – Involves inserting thin needles into trigger points within the muscle to release tightness, improve blood flow, decrease inflammatory markers, and reduce pain. Dry needling targets the affected musculature. This technique can help alleviate tension almost immediately. Additionally, it can speed up recovery and reduce the number of sessions needed in your overall plan of care.
- WinBack Tecar Therapy – Uses high-frequency electrical currents to promote tissue healing, reduce inflammation, increase blood flow, increase cellular activity, and alleviate pain. This treatment enhances cellular repair processes and accelerates recovery by increasing blood flow and stimulating the body’s natural healing physiology.
- Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) Training – Uses a specialized cuff to partially restrict blood flow in the affected extremity during low-intensity exercises. Patients can work at 20-30% of their one rep max and still gain the same strength benefits as if they were working at 80% of their one rep max. It is important to note that BFR does not completely occlude arterial blood flow, which carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the limbs. However, it does cause partial restriction of venous blood return, which is oxygen-deficient. This method allows patients to build strength and endurance without placing excessive stress on the tendon.
- Cupping Therapy – Involves placing cups on the skin to create negative pressure/suction which will increase blood flow, reduce muscular tension, and promote healing. These cups will improve the function of the quadriceps by enhancing nutrient delivery and waste removal through increased blood circulation.
After addressing the pain with various techniques, trainers should implement proper exercise programming for advanced training and return to sport. Our physical therapists will develop your tailored program to improve your quadriceps strength, knee stability, and power development through the knee joint based on your goals. For example, if you play volleyball your quadriceps need to be able to provide stability as a foundation before jumping and then have the ability to recruit enough power to jump for spike. Further, your knees must have eccentric control to help absorb the impact from the jump.
What Are Some Medications That I Can Take?
Doctors use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen to help reduce pain and inflammation. In some cases, they may administer corticosteroid injections to provide more significant relief. Here at Symmetry Physical Therapy, we work directly with the top doctors in Miami to refer for regenerative medicine when needed such as PRP and stem cell injections.
Conclusion
By addressing the root cause and participating in targeted treatments, we can help you regain mobility, strength, and a pain-free lifestyle here at Symmetry Physical Therapy. If you suspect you have quadriceps tendonitis and are looking for a physical therapist, come see us at Symmetry Physical Therapy. We are located in the Miami/Brickell downtown area. We provide an in-depth assessment and treatment strategies to help you get back to normal.
Feel free to give us a call at (305) 331 2277 to schedule an appointment.