Skip to main content

Understanding Injuries of the Patellar Tendon

By U.S. News & World Report

I always enjoy the opportunity to provide professional and credible orthopedic expertise to a variety of media outlets, especially during football season. Speaking with sports reporters about injured athletes allows me to explain and help deepen public understanding of a wide variety of orthopedic sports injuries, in the hopes that the knowledge gained can be used beyond just a few lines that are read in an article or seen in an interview. But journalists aren’t always able to use the entirety of my answers to their questions, which is why I started this blog: to expand on the “hot topics” in orthopedic sports medicine in a more complete and meaningful way.

Recently, the Houston Chronicle reached out to me with questions about patellar tendon injuries after Houston Texans offensive lineman Derek Newton ruptured both patellar tendons during a game. You can read the article here. Below I’ve included answers to some of the additional questions that were asked about these specific injuries.

First, we should start off with a brief anatomy lesson. The patellar tendon is actually a ligament and connects the patella (commonly referred to as the kneecap) to the tibia, or shinbone in the lower leg. It’s part of the extensor mechanism of the knee, including the quadriceps muscles, patella and patella tendon connecting the inferior pole of the patella to the tibial tubercle. More simply stated, it assists the muscles of the leg to straighten and bend the knee.

[See: 9 Sports Injuries That Sideline Kids.]

How do patellar tendon injuries happen?

Traumatic ruptures of the patellar tendon occur when there’s a violent contraction if the quadriceps muscle is resisted while the knee is bent. The patella acts as a hinge to assist in distributing muscles forces from the thigh quadriceps muscles through the patella tendon to the tibia. In the bent knee, the patella tendon sustains tensile loads at its attachment on the lower end/inferior pole of the patella. This is the location where the patella tendon is most commonly injured.

How rare is a patellar tendon injury?

Though it can be common in professional athletes, especially football players, injuries to the patellar tendon are typically unilateral and infrequent, resulting when the patella is exposed to an eccentric (lengthening) quadriceps muscle contraction while the knee is bent as the foot strikes the ground. Traumatic patellar tendon ruptures on both sides are extremely rare and occur more commonly as a result from systemic disease.

Patellar tendon ruptures most frequently occur in tendons with long-standing irritation, tendonitis or tendinosis, causing micro trauma that leads to degeneration of the tendon over time.

[See: The Best Olympic Sport for Your Body Type.]

What is the prognosis for recovery from patellar tendon injuries, is surgery involved, what is the outlook for playing football and having normal strength again and what is the risk of patellar tendon re-injury?

The prognosis and outcome following a patella tendon rupture is closely related to the length of time between the injury and the surgical repair of it. If surgical repair of the tendon is performed immediately after injury, most patients will experience close to full recovery of knee motion, quadriceps muscle strength and function of the lower extremity.

[See: 7 Exercises You Can Do Now to Save Your Knees Later.]

Can patellar tendon injuries be career-ending or otherwise affect a football player’s career?

Absolutely. Patellar tendon ruptures are a severe insult to the knee and can result in loss of muscle strength, knee motion and function. For this reason, it is crucial for anyone who has suffered a knee injury to seek diagnosis from an expert sports orthopedic professional right away.

More from U.S. News

7 Exercises You Can Do Now to Save Your Knees Later

5 Bodyweight Exercises to Fix Your Posture

8 Lesser-Known Ways to Ruin Your Joints

Understanding Injuries of the Patellar Tendon originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote