Quadriceps Tendon Tear or Disruption With Rehab
A quadriceps tendon tear or disruption is a partial or complete tear of the tendon between the quadriceps muscles and the kneecap (patella). Tendons connect muscles to bone. The quadriceps muscles are located on the front of the thigh and are primarily used in straightening the knee. With a partial tear, the tendon is overstretched, and some of the fibers are frayed. With a complete tear, the quadriceps muscle is detached from the kneecap. This is very rare.
CAUSES
This condition can be caused by trauma, such as:
• A deep cut on your thigh that injures the tendon.
• Falling on your knee, which may result in breaking your patella.
The condition can also occur if you land from a jump flat on your foot with your knee bent, causing a quick and forceful tightening (contraction) of your quadriceps. RISK FACTORS The following factors may make you more likely to develop this condition: • Participating in: ○ Activities that involve jumping, such as basketball. ○ Activities in which your knee muscles contract suddenly and forcefully, such as doing jumps or moguls in downhill skiing. • Having a weakened tendon from: ○ Prolonged (chronic) quadriceps tendinitis. ○ Long periods of not moving your knee (immobilization). ○ Repeat corticosteroid injections into the quadriceps tendon. ○ Medical conditions such as diabetes, lupus, or rheumatoid arthritis. ○ Degeneration over time. Most quadriceps tendon tears occur in males over 40 years of age. SYMPTOMS Symptoms of this condition include: • A “pop” sound or a tear felt above your patella at the time of injury. • Pain and tenderness over your thigh. The pain may get worse when you use the quadriceps muscles. • Bruising. • Difficulty walking, or a feeling of the knee giving way. • Sagging kneecap or an indentation above your kneecap. • Not being able to straighten your knee. DIAGNOSIS This condition may be diagnosed based on: • Your symptoms and medical history. • A physical exam. During the exam, your health care provider will: ○ Feel the area above your kneecap. ○ Test the motion and strength of your knee. • Imaging tests to rule out other conditions and to confirm the diagnosis. …show more content…
These may include:
○ X-rays to check for a bone injury, such as a fracture.
○ Ultrasound or MRI to look at the muscles and tendons around your knee.
TREATMENT
This condition may be treated with:
• Medicines to help reduce pain and inflammation.
• RICE therapy. This includes resting, icing, applying compression, and elevating the injured area.
• A knee brace (immobilizer) to keep the knee straight while the tendon heals. Typically, the brace will be worn for about 6 weeks.
• Crutches to keep weight off your injured leg.
• Physical therapy to improve strength and flexibility.
If the injury involves a complete tear of the tendon, surgery is usually needed.
HOME CARE INSTRUCTIONS
RICE Therapy
• Rest the injured leg.
• If directed, put ice on the injured area:
○ Put ice in a plastic bag.
○ Place a towel between your skin and the bag.
○ Leave the ice on for 20 minutes, 2–3 times a day.
• Apply a compression bandage to the area as told by your health care provider.
• Raise (elevate) the injured area above the level of your heart while you are sitting or lying down.
If You Have a Knee Brace: • Wear the brace as told by your health care provider. Remove it only as told by your health care provider. • Loosen the brace if your toes tingle, become numb, or turn cold and blue. • Do not let your brace get wet if it is not waterproof. • Keep the brace clean. Activity • Return to your normal activities as told by your health care provider. Ask your health care provider what activities are safe for you. • Do not use the injured limb to support your body weight until your health care provider says that you can. Use crutches as told by your health care provider. • Do exercises as told by your health care provider. General Instructions • Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider. • Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important. PREVENTION • Give your body
A quadriceps tendon tear or disruption is a partial or complete tear of the tendon between the quadriceps muscles and the kneecap (patella). Tendons connect muscles to bone. The quadriceps muscles are located on the front of the thigh and are primarily used in straightening the knee. With a partial tear, the tendon is overstretched, and some of the fibers are frayed. With a complete tear, the quadriceps muscle is detached from the kneecap. This is very rare.
CAUSES
This condition can be caused by trauma, such as:
• A deep cut on your thigh that injures the tendon.
• Falling on your knee, which may result in breaking your patella.
The condition can also occur if you land from a jump flat on your foot with your knee bent, causing a quick and forceful tightening (contraction) of your quadriceps. RISK FACTORS The following factors may make you more likely to develop this condition: • Participating in: ○ Activities that involve jumping, such as basketball. ○ Activities in which your knee muscles contract suddenly and forcefully, such as doing jumps or moguls in downhill skiing. • Having a weakened tendon from: ○ Prolonged (chronic) quadriceps tendinitis. ○ Long periods of not moving your knee (immobilization). ○ Repeat corticosteroid injections into the quadriceps tendon. ○ Medical conditions such as diabetes, lupus, or rheumatoid arthritis. ○ Degeneration over time. Most quadriceps tendon tears occur in males over 40 years of age. SYMPTOMS Symptoms of this condition include: • A “pop” sound or a tear felt above your patella at the time of injury. • Pain and tenderness over your thigh. The pain may get worse when you use the quadriceps muscles. • Bruising. • Difficulty walking, or a feeling of the knee giving way. • Sagging kneecap or an indentation above your kneecap. • Not being able to straighten your knee. DIAGNOSIS This condition may be diagnosed based on: • Your symptoms and medical history. • A physical exam. During the exam, your health care provider will: ○ Feel the area above your kneecap. ○ Test the motion and strength of your knee. • Imaging tests to rule out other conditions and to confirm the diagnosis. …show more content…
These may include:
○ X-rays to check for a bone injury, such as a fracture.
○ Ultrasound or MRI to look at the muscles and tendons around your knee.
TREATMENT
This condition may be treated with:
• Medicines to help reduce pain and inflammation.
• RICE therapy. This includes resting, icing, applying compression, and elevating the injured area.
• A knee brace (immobilizer) to keep the knee straight while the tendon heals. Typically, the brace will be worn for about 6 weeks.
• Crutches to keep weight off your injured leg.
• Physical therapy to improve strength and flexibility.
If the injury involves a complete tear of the tendon, surgery is usually needed.
HOME CARE INSTRUCTIONS
RICE Therapy
• Rest the injured leg.
• If directed, put ice on the injured area:
○ Put ice in a plastic bag.
○ Place a towel between your skin and the bag.
○ Leave the ice on for 20 minutes, 2–3 times a day.
• Apply a compression bandage to the area as told by your health care provider.
• Raise (elevate) the injured area above the level of your heart while you are sitting or lying down.
If You Have a Knee Brace: • Wear the brace as told by your health care provider. Remove it only as told by your health care provider. • Loosen the brace if your toes tingle, become numb, or turn cold and blue. • Do not let your brace get wet if it is not waterproof. • Keep the brace clean. Activity • Return to your normal activities as told by your health care provider. Ask your health care provider what activities are safe for you. • Do not use the injured limb to support your body weight until your health care provider says that you can. Use crutches as told by your health care provider. • Do exercises as told by your health care provider. General Instructions • Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider. • Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important. PREVENTION • Give your body