The patellar ligament connects the kneecap to the shin bone and is both strong and flexible. Injuries range from tendonitis to tears, with treatment involving rest, ice, compression, elevation, and medical attention. High-impact movements can result in acute injury, with recovery taking weeks or months.
The patellar ligament, alternatively known as the patellar tendon, is a band of connective tissue that connects the kneecap, or kneecap, to the shin bone in the lower leg. Located just below the knee, it is about four inches long and about one inch wide (10.16 cm long and 2.54 cm wide) and is flat and stringy. This ligament is necessarily both strong and flexible, as it helps maintain the structural bond that connects the lower leg to the knee joint while also resisting a great deal of force on the knee from the simplest of movements.
Technically a continuation of the quadriceps femoris tendon, which connects the four quadriceps muscles on the front of the thigh with the knee joint, the patellar ligament arises from the two sections of that tendon that run vertically along either side of the kneecap and converge just below it to form the ligament. It originates on the underside of the kneecap and attaches several inches below the tuberosity of the tibia bone. This is the bony protrusion, which can be felt just below the knee joint, on the upper anterior surface of the tibia, the largest bone of the shinbone. The patellar ligament also shares some common fibers with the quadriceps femoris tendon which runs vertically across the anterior surface of the patella.
Injuries to this tissue are common and range from repetitive stress injuries (RSI) such as tendonitis to acute injuries such as tears, which are typically the result of an impact. Patellar tendinitis is common among long-distance runners, cyclists and athletes whose sport requires a lot of jumping, as repeated stress on the ligament can over time develop into painful inflammation and even tears. The recommended treatment for patellar tendonitis, which feels like pain just below the kneecap, is the RICER formula: rest, ice, compression, elevation, and referral to a doctor for medical attention. Rest means avoiding any activity that puts extra stress on the area, and as with ice, recommendations vary for the length and frequency of treatment, depending on the degree of injury. Therefore, it is recommended that you consult a doctor for specific instructions.
Certain high-impact movements, such as landing from a jump, can also result in acute injury to the patellar ligament, such as a strain or overt tear. When the quadriceps are forcefully contracted to extend the knee, such as when standing up too quickly from a squat position, or to slow landing a jump, the ligaments in the knee joint, which do not stretch like tissue does muscle, they may not be able to resist excessive force. The result can be excessive stretching or stretching of the fabric, a partial tear or a complete tear. Depending on the severity of the injury, recovery can take several weeks or several months. As with tendonitis, RICER is recommended as soon as possible after the injury.
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