Runners Knee
What Is Runners Knee？
● In medical terms, runner's knee is known as patellofemoral pain syndrome. Patellofemoral pain syndrome is pain in the front of the knee around the kneecap. The kneecap is also known as the patella. It is more common in people who run and play sports that involve running and jumping.
What are the symptoms of runner’s knee?
● Pain in and around the kneecap that happens when you are active.
● Pain after sitting for a long time with the knees bent. This sometimes causes weakness or feelings of instability.
● Rubbing, grinding, or clicking sound of the kneecap that you hear or feel when you bend and straighten your knee
● Kneecap that is tender to the touch
The symptoms of runner's knee may look like other conditions and health problems. Always talk with your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.
What causes runner’s knee?
Pain in running knee can be caused by irritation of the soft tissue or lining of the knee, worn or torn cartilage, or strained tendons. Any of the following conditions can also lead to running knee:
● Excessive exercise
● Trauma to the kneecap
● Misalignment of the kneecap
● Complete or partial dislocation of the kneecap
● Flat feet Weak or tight thigh muscles Insufficient stretching before exercise
● Arthritis Fracture of the kneecap
● Thickened and inflamed lining of the knee joint Synovial Syndrome or Synovial Synovial Syndrome of the knee joint In some cases, the pain starts in the back or hip and then travels to the knee. This is called ‘referred pain’.
How is runners knee treated?
Treatment depends on your symptoms, age and general health. It also depends on the severity of the condition. The best treatment is to stop running until you can run pain-free again. The goal of treatment is to relieve pain and increase strength and range of motion. Treatment may include:
● strengthening exercises
● Stretching exercises
● Cold compresses
● Elevation of the leg
● Compression of the knee
● Medications such as ibuprofen
● Knee support
● Patellofemoral joint taping
How can runner knee be prevented?
How can runner knee be prevented?
● Maintaining a healthy weight
● Warming up before exercise
● Stretching before and after exercise
● Gradually increasing your activity level
● Wearing shoes that are appropriate for physical activity
● Lean forward and bend your knees when running