The quadriceps tendon is the most important tendon involved in straightening the knee from a bent position. Partial tears of this tendon do not completely disrupt the tendon. Some of the fibers are torn. A complete tear will split the soft tissue into two pieces or the tendon will completely separate from the bone. This is disabling because the muscle is no longer anchored to the kneecap.
Symptoms
- An indentation at the top of your kneecap where your tendon use to be
- Bruising
- Tenderness
- Cramping
- Difficulty walking
Causes
- Tears can be caused by falls, direct force to the front of the knee, laceration, landing awkwardly from a jump and age.
Risk factors
- Tendinitis
- Chronic diseases
- Steroid use
- Fluoroquinolones
- Immobilization
Prevention
- Proper warm up and cool down
- Focus on proper technique
- Do not play through pain
- Strengthen muscles to reduce muscular imbalances
- Maintain a healthy body weight
Diagnosis
- Thorough physician exam including a history, observation, and palpation of the area that hurts
- X-rays, or MRI may be ordered to narrow down diagnosis
Treatment options
Non-surgical treatment options
- Immobilization
- Physical Therapy
Surgical treatment options could be discussed with the surgeon depending on severity of tear.
