Buying Guide: How to choose the best braces and straps for patellar tendonitis? List 2024

Patellar tendonitis is an injury that usually affects all those athletes whose functions involve a high degree of impact on the knees, due to running, jumping, changes of pace and sudden changes of direction. However, this pathology is also involved in the health of ordinary people, due to different causes or risk factors.

So, since it is a type of knee injury that occurs frequently, it is worth knowing what its symptoms are and how it should be treated. Therefore, we propose patellar straps as an optimal solution, thanks to the benefits they provide to speed up the recovery process after suffering a tendinitis.

What are the symptoms of patellar tendonitis of the knee?

Also known as "jumper's knee", "footballer's knee" or "patellar tendinopathy", patellar tendinitis is an injury that causes inflammation of the patellar tendon (i.e. the cord-like tissue that connects the kneecap to the tibia).

The tendon is an essential element for extending the knee so that the person can run, jump and strike, as it works with the muscles of the front of the thigh. This pathology is distinguished as an overuse injury, due to repetitive movements that cause damage or irritation to the tissues in this area of the lower extremity.

The main causes of this knee injury are the following:

• Overtraining or overexertion of the knee.
• Wearing inappropriate footwear that does not provide cushioning on impact.
• Poor stretching or warm-up.
• Incorrect gestures or movements during running, striking, jumping or pedalling.
• Congenital pathology (such as patellar deviation).

The most common risk factors are:

• Muscular imbalance
• Stiffness in the leg muscles
• Chronic diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, kidney failure, diabetes, etc.).

Signs and symptoms associated with patellar tendonitis are:

• Shooting pain over the patellar tendon (in the area below the kneecap specifically)
• Pain in the quadriceps and when flexing the knee.
• Feeling of swelling in the area below the kneecap (due to the thickening that develops in the tendon).
• Stiffness in the affected knee: especially when the patient jumps, climbs stairs, sits, squats, bends or kneels.
• Weakness in both the leg and calf.
• Problems with balance and/or standing.
• Fever or increased body temperature (in some cases).

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What are the benefits of using a compression strap or band to treat knee tendonitis?

The treatment of patellar tendonitis or knee tendonitis must be adapted or personalised for each patient, depending on various factors (level of severity of the injury, the length of time suffering from the condition, the cause that has led to this pathology and the type of patellar tendonitis).

To speed up the patient's recovery process, he or she may suggest certain therapeutic therapies to help eliminate the effects of the condition in the shortest possible time. Among these therapies, one of the most useful of all is one that uses an elastic garment to exert controlled pressure on the injured region to improve blood flow, reduce inflammation and protect the area. This is known as "compression therapy".

Knee or patellar straps offer the following benefits:

• Mitigate pain above the knee: By keeping the joint stable to prevent continuous movement that causes pain or discomfort.
• Decreases the existing inflammation in the area: As it applies proper compression or support, it manages to improve the flow of blood in the knee in order to eliminate swelling.
• It favours the recovery process: Because it has the capacity to attenuate the existing fatigue in the area, as well as, it cooperates in recovering its normal range of motion.
• It provides protection in the injured area: This means that it avoids possible relapses and even serves to prevent other more serious pathologies in the knee or its adjacent parts.
• Guarantees comfort and safety: With the use of these compression garments, the patient will feel more confident to carry out any activity that involves the use of his knee after recovering from patellar tendinitis. They provide remarkable comfort.
• Increases the performance of athletes: Once free of tendinopathy in the knee or other similar pathology, these compressive knee braces will lead to a higher performance on the part of the person, thanks to the fact that they improve the distribution of body loads.

What type of patellar straps are best for improving knee tendonitis?

Due to the numerous manufacturers that distribute knee braces, straps and compression garments worldwide, there are currently multiple models that are conditioned to fulfil specific functions, depending on the requirements of different segments of their target audience. Consequently, in order to buy a knee brace that helps to improve knee tendinitis, it is appropriate to take into account some points of interest in order to make the best choice and/or the best results.

The first detail to check is the type of compression applied by the knee brace or strap, which must be appropriate to take advantage of the benefits guaranteed by compression therapy when treating tendinitis. Similarly, it is ideal to choose a suitable size or dimension for your joint, because this helps to obtain an effective fit.

It is suggested to pay attention to the material used, as well as to the degree of breathability provided by the knee brace or compression strap (so that sweat does not accumulate in the area) and other essential details for its correct use.

We highlight which ones are ideal for improving the main symptoms of patellar tendinitis:

Strap for patellar tendonitis

This is a tape or band used to treat patellar tendonitis (as its name suggests). It is therefore the most convenient compression accessory to improve the knee or kneecap, after suffering from this contusion. In fact, it serves to accelerate your rehabilitation process by providing a sufficient level of compression, thereby ensuring stability and improvement of the affected joint.

Compression sports knee brace

This is another ideal alternative to improve patellar tendinitis. Since, it is a compressive knee brace that helps to treat the pain present in the knee and therefore, it is characterised by promoting its recovery in the shortest possible time (in conjunction with all the recommended care). It also provides great stability to a weak knee and reduces the stress or tension that accumulates in the area due to the alteration.