Q I am an office worker in my 30s, and recently, the front of my knee throbs every time I go up or down stairs. Why does patellar tendinitis occur?
A Patellar tendinitis occurs when micro-damage accumulates due to repetitive overload on the patellar tendon (the tendon connecting the patella and the tibia) at the front of the knee. The risk increases with movements that involve bending the knee and bearing body weight, such as climbing stairs, using ramps, or jumping. Initially, it starts with pain after exercise, but if left untreated, pain can appear even during daily walking.
Detailed Answer
Patellar tendinitis occurs when the repetitive and concentrated tensile force applied to the patellar tendon exceeds the tendon's self-healing rate. Histologically, the key factor is a state of tendinosis, where the arrangement of collagen fibers is disrupted and neovascularization and nerve infiltration occur. It frequently occurs when increasing exercise intensity without sufficient rest, receiving repetitive impact on hard surfaces, or when there is a lack of flexibility in the quadriceps and hamstrings.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
In Korean medicine, the patellar tendon area is viewed as the site where the pathways of Qi and blood flow through the front of the knee. If the body's function of nourishing muscles and tendons declines, or if the tendons are damaged due to overwork, the Qi and blood flow becomes blocked at that spot, causing heat sensations and pain. At Dongjedang, we restore the flow of Qi and blood around the knee through acupuncture treatment, and use needle-needle acupuncture to loosen adhered tissues around the tendon, aiding in the rearrangement of damaged collagen. In the long term, we aim for a state free from recurrence by treating the condition from the inside out with herbal medicine tailored to the patient's constitution, which nourishes muscles and tendons and strengthens digestive function.
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