Patellar Tendonitis

I think this is one of that group of injuries that is mainly caused by having an underdeveloped set of quadriceps and/or overworking your knee by trying to do too much too quickly, especially when first starting out. Stretching and strengthening your quads are the things that are going to help the most. I'm not sure if the massage itself will help, but you might ask the therapist for recommendations for recovery.

I am in nooooo way anything like an expert, just getting back into a routine of exercise myself.

However I suffer from shin splints, particularly now I'm heavier. So I've been doing a LOT of research and now have a pair of Vibram 5 Fingers Bikila LS winging their way to me.

The general theory is, we were born to run, been doing it since we lived in caves, our bodies are made for it. Yet running = high injuries, the thought to the cause is that we weren't made to run with blocks/mashmallows on our feet. By using traditional footwear we are preventing our feet from their full capability, which leads to poor form such as over striding and heel striking = injuries.

Barefoot running however, creates good form because you automatically adjust away from what causes you pain because you feel it instantly (no cushions), instead of down the line when the impacts build up. Vibram shoes are the closest to barefoot whilst keeping your feet protected.

Had a quick google on tendonitis + vibrams for you and there's quite a bit of positive feedback like....

Vibram 5 Fingers
Vibram Five Fingers shoes provide minimal support and have little cushioning, making the athlete run with a forefoot strike. This keeps the lower leg bone more vertical reducing stress on the patellar tendon says Dr. Charlie Weingroff, a physical therapist. Likewise, says Weingroff, strengthening the feet by gradually introducing shoes with less support can help develop strength and control around the knee in the long run.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/238480-the-best-running-shoes-for-patellar-tendonitis/#ixzz1mJFT7Pw3

Worth a shot?


(Note: If you do get some, DO NOT go straight out running, you'll be using parts of your feet which are severely underdeveloped. You need to build up to them. Oh and if you have a high arch/wide feet like me you'll need a pair that ride low on the foot or lace up - have already sent a pair of normal bikilas back)

I was recently diagnosed with patellar tendonitis and the ortho was less than helpful; he didn't give me any real information other than a diagnosis and a knee strap along with my invoice. I'm not sure of the root cause yet (overexertion, improper warm-up, bad shoes) but am wondering, for those of you who have suffered from this:

1. Was there something you were able to do to speed up the recovery process?
2. How long was your recovery time?
3. If you wore a knee strap, for how long did you wear it?

I'm seeing a sports injury massage therapist this week and I'm really hoping that helps. It's been over a week since I was able to exercise and all my muscles are tight! I am able to walk for short distances without pain (it got so bad I was on crutches for a few days), but I'd really like to be able to get back to a regular workout ASAP! Any advice would be great!

I went through this a year ago. The biggest help was going to a sports physical therapist. I've been to regular physical therapy for other things, but having a sports therapist definitely will help speed up the recovery because they will show you proper form. It took me about 2 months to be discharged from the therapist, but I wasn't completely healed for another 6 months or so of lots of eccentric single leg work. I realized that no matter what shoe I was wearing, it always gave me knee problems. That is when I started working out barefoot, and I haven't had problems since. I bought myself some Vibrams Five Fingers and haven't looked back. My workouts now consist of bodyweight/tabat/HIIT workouts with lots of squats/lunges to keep my knees strong. Good luck with your therapy!