Popliteus Tendinopathy
Original Editors - Leen Vandereycken
Lead Editors - Your name will be added here if you are a lead editor on this page. Read more.
Search Strategy[edit | edit source]
add text here related to databases searched, keywords, and search timeline
Definition/Description
[edit | edit source]
Strictly theoretical seen, the popliteus tendinitis is a gap in the tendon of the popliteus.
This tendon starts on the lateral side of the bottom of the femur. On the other side, the tendon is attached on the medial side of the backside of the tibia.
The popliteus muscle is very important when you rotate your knee joint.
Thanks to this muscle, it’s possible to endo-rotate the lowest part of your leg.
But not only for the movement of the knee is this muscle important, it is a very crucial part for the stabilization in the knee.
First it is used to assure the forward stabilization, also for the retraction of the backside of the knee joint of the lateral meniscus during the flexion of the knee.
Finally it guarantees the introduction of the flexion coming from the full extension of the knee.
Clinically Relevant Anatomy[edit | edit source]
add text here
Epidemiology /Etiology[edit | edit source]
When the knee rotates too much, there may be a chance that the knee shows some irregular moves. Another problem can be that the soles for your footwear are not equal or of bad quality (the joints of the feet are essential to make sure that the knee joints function perfectly). That’s an example of how tendinition can be caused.
Characteristics/Clinical Presentation[edit | edit source]
add text here
Differential Diagnosis[edit | edit source]
add text here
Diagnostic Procedures[edit | edit source]
There is more than one treatment modality used. It’s the duty of the chiropractors to be aware of other treatments in case that the conservative treatments don’t work or in case that the patients want to know all their possibilities.
In general, NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are mostly used to deal with the problem of tendinopathy. As awkward as it may be, there is little evidence to support neither to reject the use of the oral NSAIDs for tendinopathy.
Only for lateral elbow pain cases there are some elements proven that support the use of it.
Another treatment that is often used, is the injection of corticosteroids. But it is not (yet) known how many times an injection is necessary, what the dosages or the intervals are.
So the use of corticosteroids is not the best solution in this case because scientists haven’t found all the details of the medicine.
ESWT (extracorporeal shock wave therapy) is also a way to treat tendinopathy.
It is an ultrasound-guided method that focuses a single-pressure pulse at a specific place.
The shock takes only a couple of microseconds.
It has been proved that this therapy helps to heal the tissue and breaks down the calcific deposits.
On the other hand, there are cases where the opposite effects have been reported.
When the therapy is not effective (after 3 to 6 months) for the treatment of the tendinopathy, a surgery is the best way to solve the problem. Tendonitis is - according to a recent survey – one of the most seen conditions among chiropractors.
Mostly they treat it without any medical co-management. There are several methods which are used by the chiropractors: massage, electrical stimulation, bracing, therapeutic exercises…
Outcome Measures[edit | edit source]
add links to outcome measures here (also see Outcome Measures Database)
Examination[edit | edit source]
add text here related to physical examination and assessment
Medical Management
[edit | edit source]
add text here
Physical Therapy Management
[edit | edit source]
add text here
Key Research[edit | edit source]
Mark T. Pfefer, RN, MS, DC,a Stephan R. Cooper, DC,b and Nathan L. Uhl, DCc
Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics
Chiropractic Management of Tendinopathy January 2009
Resources
[edit | edit source]
add appropriate resources here
Clinical Bottom Line[edit | edit source]
add text here
Recent Related Research (from Pubmed)[edit | edit source]
see tutorial on Adding PubMed Feed
Extension:RSS -- Error: Not a valid URL: Feed goes here!!|charset=UTF-8|short|max=10
References[edit | edit source]
see adding references tutorial.
