Tendinitis in pes anserine, also called anserine tendinitis, is an inflammation in the knee region, which is made up of three tendons responsible for the flexion movement of the knee and is close to the anserine bursa, which is a bag with fluid that functions as an impact shock absorber in the knee, causing pain and difficulty moving the knee.
This type of tendonitis occurs mainly in women who are overweight and can arise due to other health problems such as diabetes, flat feet, knee deformities, trauma or excessive physical activity that requires effort on the knee.
Treatment for pes ansus tendonitis is indicated by a physiotherapist or orthopedic doctor after carrying out tests, which may be ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging, and consists of rest, applying ice to the knee region, physiotherapy, acupuncture and the use of medication. anti-inflammatories and analgesics, to reduce inflammation and relieve pain.
Main symptoms
Peris tendonitis is an inflammation that affects the nerves of the knee and causes symptoms such as:
- Pain on the inner side of the knee;
- Difficulty going up or down stairs;
- Sensitivity when palpating the knee region;
- Throbbing pain in the knee when sitting.
In some cases, the lateral region of the knee may become swollen, but this is not very common in this type of tendonitis. People with pes ansus tendinitis may feel cramping when walking, which tends to worsen at night and in cold weather, which can affect the quality of sleep and generate anxiety.
The pain caused by this type of tendinitis is usually intense and impairs the development of daily activities, and it is recommended to consult an orthopedist who may request tests, such as ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging, to confirm the diagnosis and recommend the most appropriate treatment. .
Furthermore, consulting a doctor is important as these symptoms may indicate other changes, such as a meniscus injury. Find out more about what a meniscus injury is and how to treat it.
Possible causes
Ganserole tendonitis is a disease that most frequently affects women who are overweight and people who have diabetes, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, the main causes of which can be:
- Physical activities that require knee effort, such as running and long-distance marathons;
- Flat or flat feet;
- Knee trauma;
- Compression of the nerves in the knee tendons;
- Retraction of the posterior thigh muscles;
- Medial meniscus injury.
This type of inflammation in the knee is more common in women due to the fact that, in general, they have a wider pelvis and, consequently, have a greater angulation of the knee, causing greater pressure to occur on the region of the tendons that form the knee. goose.
How treatment is carried out
The treatment for tendonitis in the pes anserine is very similar to the treatment of bursitis in the knee, being recommended by a physiotherapist or orthopedist and can be done through:
1. Rest
Rest is a very important step in recovering from this type of tendinitis, as it prevents movement of the knee and, consequently, helps the nerves in the pes ansus to recover. In this type of injury, it is important for the person to lie down, with the leg straight and when sleeping, a cushion or pillow should be used between the thighs.
While resting, you can carry out your usual daily activities, however, you must avoid going up and down stairs, squatting, running, walking long distances and sitting for a long time with your knees bent.
2. Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy is the application of ice to the site of the injury and can be used to treat tendonitis in the pes anserine, as it reduces pain, helps reduce swelling and inflammation of the knee and should be used through gel packs. , which are frozen in the freezer, bags or compresses that are placed on ice, for a period of 20 minutes every 2 hours.
When placing an ice pack on the knee, it is necessary to protect the skin first with a cloth or face towel, as ice in contact with the skin can cause redness, irritation and even burns. Learn more about cryotherapy.
3. Medications
Some medications may be indicated to treat this type of tendinitis, such as anti-inflammatories, which help to reduce the inflammatory process in the pes anserinus region. In some cases, the doctor may recommend the use of oral corticosteroids, which must be taken for the indicated period, even if the pain improves.
Some plants and natural extracts have anti-inflammatory action and can be used to help minimize knee pain, such as ginger tea and anise tea. Another way to alleviate the symptoms of pes ansus tendonitis is through injection of anesthetic with corticosteroids, however it is more suitable for situations in which bursitis also occurs in the knee.
4. Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy treatment can be carried out through rehabilitation exercises that must be guided by a professional physiotherapist and consists of strengthening the muscles that support the knee and stretching the pes ansellore tendons.
Other physiotherapy techniques may also be recommended, such as applying ultrasound to the knee, which stimulates the body’s cells to fight inflammation and helps relieve pain and reduce swelling at the site of tendonitis. Transcutaneous electrical stimulation, known as TENS, is also a physiotherapeutic treatment indicated for this type of tendonitis, as it uses electrical stimulation to improve inflammation of the pes ansus.
See the following video for some exercises that can help alleviate the symptoms of pes ansus tendonitis:
