Inflammation of the kneecap

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Last updated 25/04/2023 by The pain clinics - Interdisciplinary Health

Inflammation of the patella

Inflammation of the kneecap may occur due to several causes. Typical symptoms of inflammation of the knee bowl are local swelling, reddened skin and pressure pain. An inflammation (mild inflammatory response) is a normal natural response when soft tissues, muscles or tendons become irritated or damaged. When tissue is damaged or irritated, the body will try and increase blood circulation to the area - this leads to pain, local swelling, heat development, reddish skin and pressure soreness. The swelling in the area can also lead to a nerve compression, which we can see in, among other things, squeezing of the tibial nerve in the leg or knee area. These symptoms will vary in intensity depending on the damage or irritation in the tissue. It is important to distinguish between inflammation (inflammation) and infection (bacterial or viral infection).

Causes of inflammation of the patella

As mentioned, inflammation or inflammation is a natural response from the immune system to repair an injury or irritation. This may occur due to overuse (without sufficient musculature to perform the task) or due to minor injuries. Here are some diagnoses that can cause inflammation or inflammatory reactions in the kneecap:

Arthritis (Arthritis)
Osteoarthritis (the pain depends on which joints are affected)
Infrapatellar bursitis (knee mucosal inflammation)
Pes anserine bursitis (mucosal inflammation on inside knee)
Prepatellar bursitis (knee bowl mucosal inflammation)
rheumatism (the pain depends on which joints are affected)

The Pain Clinics: Our Interdisciplinary and Modern Clinics
Our clinic departments at Vondtklinikkene (click here for a complete overview of our clinics) has a distinctively high level of professional expertise in the investigation, treatment and rehabilitation of knee diagnoses. Contact us if you want the help of therapists with expertise in knee pain.

Who is affected by inflammation of the kneecap?

Absolutely everyone can be affected by an inflammation of the kneecap - as long as the activity or load exceeds what the soft tissue or muscles can withstand. Those who increase their training too quickly, especially in jogging, sports, weightlifting and especially those with a high repetitive load on the ankle and foot are most exposed - especially if the majority of the load is on a hard surface. Malpositions in the feet (overpronation and flatfoot) can also be a contributing factor to the development of an inflammatory reaction in the kneecap, but the main focus is normally on the fact that the supporting muscles are not in line with the load - and that we thus get an overload.

- Inflammation in the kneecap can be very distressing. If an inflammation occurs, you must remember that in the vast majority of cases it is self-inflicted (a lot of walking on hard surfaces with a lack of training of support muscles, for example?), and that you are smart to listen to what your body is trying to tell you . If you don't listen to the pain signals, the structures can be chronically damaged.

Relief and load management in case of inflammation in the kneecap

If you've got inflammation of the kneecap, you actually need to get better at listening to your knees. A good first step can be to start with the use of knee compression support to give the knees both relief and to provide increased microcirculation to the inflamed areas. Use of reusable cold pack can also be effective if the swelling is significant. Compression supports have several positive advantages, but in the case of inflammation, the main advantage is that it can help reduce fluid accumulation and swelling - which in turn provides better space conditions inside the knee itself.

Tips: Knee compression support (The link opens in a new window)
Click on the image or link to read more about the knee compression support and how it can help your knee.

Symptoms of inflammation of the patella

Pain and symptoms will depend on the extent to which the patella has an inflammatory reaction. We remind you again that an inflammation and an infection are two completely different things - if you get a severe inflammatory reaction with heat development, fever and pus in the area, then you have an infection, but we will go into more detail in another article. Typical symptoms of inflammation include:

Local swelling
Reddish, irritated skin
Painful when pressed / touched

Diagnosis of inflammation of the patella

A clinical examination will be based on history and an examination. This will show reduced movement in the affected area and local tenderness. You will not normally need a further imaging examination - but in certain cases it may be relevant with an imaging examination to check whether an injury is the cause of the swelling or blood tests.

Diagnostic examination of inflammation of the kneecap (X-ray, MRI, CT or ultrasound)

An X-ray may exclude any fractures to the knee or knee. One MRI examination can show if there is any damage to tendons or structures in the area. Ultrasound can examine whether there is tendon damage - it can also see if there is fluid accumulation in the area.

Treatment of inflammation of the patella

The main purpose of treating inflammation in the patella is to remove any cause of the inflammation and then allow the patella to heal itself. As mentioned earlier, an inflammation is a completely natural repair process where the body increases blood circulation to the area to ensure faster healing - unfortunately it is so that sometimes the body can do a slightly good job and it may then be necessary with icing, anti-inflammatory laser and possible use of anti-inflammatory drugs (we remind you that overuse of NSAIDS can lead to a reduced repair in the area). Cold treatment can provide pain relief for sore joints and muscles, also in the patella. Blue. Biofrost (opens in a new window) is a popular natural product. One should always try conservative treatment for a long time before resorting to invasive surgery (surgery and surgery), but in some cases this is the only way out. Direct conservative measures can be:

Physical therapy (treatment of nearby muscles can provide pain relief)
Rest (take a break from what caused the injury)
Sports casting / gymnastics
Insoles (this can lead to a more correct load on the foot and instep)
Exercises and stretching

Exercises against inflammation in the patella

One should try to cut out too much weight-bearing exercise if one is afflicted with inflammation in the patella. Replace jogging with swimming, elliptical machine or exercise bike. Also make sure that you stretch your thighs, calves, feet and train your feet lightly as shown in this article.

Related article: - 4 good exercises for sore feet!