You may experience some or all the following:

• Difficulty while walking or going down stairs.
• knee pain mainly during movement and physical activity.
• In some cases pain can be present even at rest depending on the severity of the inflammation.
• Tenderness around the affected area alongside swelling (significant in some cases).
• Warm sensation due to the inflammation, particularly if pressure is applied on it.
• If bursa gets infected, you may have fever. Hence, if you have fever or generally feeling unwell while experiencing patellar bursitis you should contact your GP.

Patellar Bursitis main causes are:

• Prolonged kneeling position specially on hard surfaces
• Overuse due to occupation or physical activity
• Direct blow to the knee (sports like football, volleyball, rugby, martial arts).
• Complications from osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or gout, bacterial infection, obesity.

The most common tests to diagnose Patellar Bursitis (carpenter´s knee) are:

First approach:

• what symptoms you’re experiencing
• when they started
• how long you’ve had them

Imagery test

• a MRI scan
• an ultrasound scan
• a CT scan

Home Treatment

This condition can take weeks or months to settle. You can play an active part in speeding up your recovery:

• Rest: avoid the strenuous pain triggering activity and overuse
• Activity modification
• Ice
• Compression (use elastic bandage to support the knee)
• Pain relievers

Traditional treatments

• Crutches-limit the amount of weight over the knee.
• Knee brace- Stability to the knee.
• Physical therapy
• Surgery (severe cases)

Hands on treatment

Physiotherapy and Osteopathy: manipulation to improve range of movement, often the joint is restricted so the muscles have to work harder and from a disadvantaged position

 Return to activity gradual when: 

• Pain free in all range of movement 
• Pain free load bearing on knee
• No swelling