What You Should Know About Patella Injuries?

Do you know that your knee endures constant strain while you are involved in any physical activity? So, it is right to say that without strong and stable knees, even the most dedicated sportsperson can become sidelined by injury. Now, even though your entire knee helps to make your move, the center of your knee function is the patella. 

The patella, also known as the kneecap, plays an important role in your movement as well as in absorbing impacts. So, you should know about patella injuries and their causes to avoid suffering from them. But first, let us start by understanding more about the importance of patella in your knee. 

Understanding the Patella and Its Role

The kneecap or patella is a small, flat bone present at the front of your knee. It is located within the quadricep tendon that connects your thigh muscles to your shinbone (lower legs). When you are involved in physical activities, your patella acts as a guard and protects your knee joint. How does it do so? 

The patella acts like a cushion, absorbing any shock and distributing stress evenly. Moreover, it also makes movements like running, jumping, and squatting smoother. The patella stabilises your knees, allows you to move confidently, and reduces the risk of injury.

Common Causes of Patella Injuries

Now, you already know enough about the importance of patella. So, by knowing about the causes of patella injuries, you will be able to take proactive steps to avoid them.

Overuse Injuries

If you are a sportsperson or have an active lifestyle, then you are putting constant stress on your knee. Over time, this stress can cause pain and also lead to tenderness due to jumping or abrupt changes in direction. Activities like running, jumping, or cycling can lead to overuse injuries. However, you should not worry much as we will discuss ways by which you can prevent such injuries further in the blog. 

Trauma and Impact Injuries

Have you experienced a hard fall, collision, or a blow during sports? All these can cause direct trauma to your kneecap and lead to fracture or dislocation of the patella. Fractures can even cause your patella to crack. Moreover, dislocations can lead to instability and make it difficult for you to move as your kneecap gets displaced from its normal position.

Structural Issues

Some anatomical conditions make you more vulnerable to patella injuries. For example, if your patella does not move within its groove, it leads to increased wear and tear. This condition is called patellar maltracking. Another condition is known as patella alta. It involves a high-riding patella. So, if you suffer from this condition, it can increase the risk of injury to your kneecap.

Awareness of these causes can reduce the risk of patella injuries. However, if you are already suffering from knee pain, then certain symptoms can help you identify whether you are suffering from patella injury or not.

Symptoms of Patella Injuries

By recognizing the symptoms of a patella injury, you can seek timely treatment. Besides, you will be able to prevent any further damage to your kneecap.

Pain and Tenderness

If you experience pain around your kneecap while moving, it can indicate a patella injury. You may feel this pain, especially when you bend your knees while squatting or running. Also, if you press the area surrounding your kneecap, you may notice some tenderness.

Swelling and Stiffness

Does your knee appear larger than usual and feel warm to the touch? It is a sign that you have inflammation around your kneecap. This swelling makes your patella stiff and limits your range of motion. Also, you can find it difficult to fully straighten or bend your leg.

Instability or Weakness

An unstable knee is also a symptom of an injured patella. You may feel like your knee will buckle away under pressure. Besides the instability, you may also feel weakness in the legs and find it hard to balance yourself while performing any activity.

Treatment Options for Patella Injuries

There is no need to worry if you have been diagnosed with a patella injury. This is because there are various treatment options available nowadays that are very effective.

Conservative Treatments

The most common approach to treating patella injury is the RICE method. You need to rest to prevent further damage. Then, ice is used to numb the injured area, and inflammation is controlled through compression. Lastly, elevation helps to minimize swelling.

You can also be given anti-inflammatory medicines to reduce pain and inflammation. More importantly, physiotherapy is recommended as it focuses on exercises that will restore your knee strength and mobility.

Regenerative Interventions

Regenerative intervention is also a great way to treat the symptoms of patellar tendonitis and loss of patellar cartilage like pain, instability, and tenderness. 

Surgical Interventions

In case of more severe injuries like fractures and persistent dislocations, you may have to undergo surgery. Generally, surgery is only recommended when conservative treatments fail.

Preventing Patella Injuries

While you lead an active lifestyle, it may seem impossible to prevent patella injuries. However, if you take some preventative measures, it can protect your patella and also ensure your knee health.

Warm-Up and Stretching

The best protection you can give to your knees is a good warm-up before starting any exercises. By doing so, you will prepare your muscles and joints for the intense activities. In addition, it will reduce the risk of injury by improving your flexibility and blood flow.

Strengthening Exercises

Include exercises that make your quads, hamstrings, and core stronger. These are the muscles present around your knee. Hence, the stronger these muscles become, the better support your patella gets. Besides, it also reduces strain and increases your stability.

Proper Technique and Equipment

Try avoiding unnecessary stress on your knee. How so? The use of the correct form will help to prevent much strain on your knees. Additionally, choose the right footwear that offers you good support and cushioning. It will help to maintain proper alignment of your knees and reduce the impact on your patella.

These simple practices will help you to reduce the risk of patella injuries remarkably. But if you are already suffering from a patella injury, then you must know about the recovery and long-term care of your kneecap.

Recovery and Long-Term Care of Patella Injuries 

In order to ensure an effective recovery from a patella injury, you must include careful monitoring and long-term care.

Monitoring Progress

You should track every recovery milestone. It will ensure that your knee is healing properly. Also, avoid returning to sports too soon. It can lead to setbacks in your recovery or even worsen the injury.

Avoiding Re-Injury

Increase your training intensity gradually. More importantly, you must focus on maintaining strength to prevent re-injury. Through consistent strength training, you will be able to target the muscles around your knee. It will become the key to your long-term knee stability.

Mental Aspects of Recovery

It can become depressing if you think too much about being sidelined. So, focusing on your mental health and staying positive is also very important. Moreover, set realistic goals and celebrate the small victories in your healing journey.

Final words

Maintaining knee health includes the fact that you know enough about the patella and the causes and symptoms of its injuries. Moreover, you must focus on prompt treatment if you experience any signs of injury to avoid complications. Lastly, try to stay informed and proactive. Explore additional resources on knee health and injury prevention to keep your lifestyle active and on track.