Tendonitis in the goose leg: what it is, causes and treatment

Tendinitis in the goose leg, also called anserine tendinitis, is an inflammation in the knee region, which is composed of three tendons, which are: the sartorius, gracilis and semitendinosus. This set of tendons is responsible for the knee flexion movement and is close to the anserine bursa, which is a bag of liquid that works as a shock absorber on 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 in the knee.

The treatment for goose paw tendonitis is indicated by an orthopedic doctor after exams, which may be ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging, and consists of rest, application of ice on the knee, physical therapy, acupuncture and use of anti-inflammatory drugs. inflammatory and pain relievers to reduce inflammation and relieve pain.

Main symptoms

Tendonitis in the goose leg is an inflammation that affects the nerves of the knee and causes symptoms such as:

• Pain in the inner side of the knee; Difficulty walking up or down stairs; Sensitivity when feeling the knee area; 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 tendonitis in the goose leg may feel hooked when walking which tend to get worse at night and in cold weather, which can affect the quality of sleep and generate anxiety.

The pain caused by this type of tendonitis is usually intense and impairs the development of day-to-day activities, and it is recommended to consult with an orthopedist who may order tests, such as ultrasound or MRI, to confirm the diagnosis and recommend the most appropriate treatment..

In addition, consulting a doctor is important as these symptoms may indicate other changes, such as injury to the meniscus. Check out more what is a meniscus injury and how to treat it.

How treatment is done

The treatment for tendonitis in the goose paw is very similar to the treatment of bursitis in the knee, being indicated by an orthopedist and can be done through:

1. Rest

Rest is a very important step in the recovery of this type of tendonitis, as it prevents knee movement and, consequently, helps the nerves of the goose leg 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.

During rest you can do the usual activities of day-to-day, however, it is necessary to avoid going up and down stairs, do squats, run, walk long distances and stay long with knee bent.

2. Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy is the application of ice to the lesion site and can be used to treat tendonitis in the goose leg, as it reduces pain, helps to reduce swelling and inflammation of the knee and should be used through gel bags, which are frozen in the freezer, bags or compresses that the ice is placed on, for a period of 20 minutes every 2 hours.

When placing the ice pack on the knee it is necessary to protect the skin first, with a cloth or a face towel, as the ice in contact with the skin can cause redness, irritation and even burns.

3. Medicines

Some drugs may be indicated to treat this type of tendonitis, such as anti-inflammatory drugs, which help to decrease the inflammatory process in the region of the goose leg. In some cases, the doctor may recommend the use of oral corticosteroids, which should be taken for the indicated period, even if the pain improves.

Some plants and natural extracts have an anti-inflammatory action and can be used to help minimize knee pain, such as ginger tea and fennel tea. See other home remedies for tendonitis.

Another way to relieve the symptoms of goose paw tendonitis is by injecting anesthetic with corticosteroids, which is more suitable for situations in which knee bursitis also occurs.

4. Physiotherapy

The treatment with physiotherapy can be done through rehabilitation exercises that must be guided by a professional physiotherapist and consists of strengthening the muscles that support the knee and stretching the tendons of the goose paw.

Other physiotherapy techniques may also be recommended, such as applying ultrasound to the knee, which stimulates the body's cells to fight inflammation and help relieve pain and reduce swelling at the tendonitis site. Transcutaneous electrical stimulation, known as TENS, is also a physiotherapy treatment indicated for this type of tendonitis, as it uses electrical stimulation to improve the inflammation of the goose leg. Learn more about the TENS technique and what benefits.

5. Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a type of treatment in traditional Chinese medicine that is based on the stimulation of specific points on the body to release the flow of energy and decrease pain, promoting physical and mental well-being. This type of treatment can be used to assist the treatment of tendonitis by applying final needles, lasers or mustard seeds to places on the body to decrease inflammation of the tendons of the goose leg. Check out more about what acupuncture is and what it is for.

Here are other tips that can help lessen the pain caused by tendonitis:

Possible causes

Goose paw tendonitis is a disease that most commonly affects women who are overweight and people who have diabetes, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, the main causes of which may be:

• Physical activities that require knee effort, such as running and marathon over long distances; Flat or flat feet; Trauma to the knee; Compression of the nerves of the knee tendons; Retraction of the posterior thigh musculature; Injury of the medial meniscus.

This type of inflammation in the knee is more common in women due to the fact that, in general, they have a broader pelvis and, consequently, have a greater angle of the knee causing greater pressure to occur on the region of the tendons that form the foot of goose.