Runner’s knee (or patellofemoral pain syndrome) is a common injury among runners. Runner’s knee can also be an issue for other athletes, including basketball and soccer players, cyclists, and even weightlifters. Runners are not the only athletes who can get runner’s knee—it’s also common among skiers and dancers. Sometimes, runner’s knee is preventable with proper stretching and strengthening exercises before you start running or doing sports activities again after an injury or illness. Other times it happens without any warning signs; in those cases, you may need to see a doctor for diagnosis and treatment options
Runner’s knee is a common injury among runners.
Runner’s knee, also known as patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS), is a common injury among runners. The cause of runner’s knee can be hard to pinpoint, but it usually develops due to overuse and/or malalignment of the kneecap.
Symptoms include tenderness or pain around your kneecap and swelling in your patella tendon, as well as tightness in your quadriceps muscle. You may notice that running becomes more difficult or painful after running for a while.
Runners are not the only athletes who can get runner’s knee.
Runner’s knee is a common injury that can also affect people who run and those who do other activities that require repetitive motion, such as cycling or hiking.
The patellar tendon runs from the front of your knee cap to your shinbone. It helps straighten your leg when you’re walking or running, but it can become inflamed if it rubs against bone or another tendon during activity. This inflammation is called patellar tendonitis, which can cause pain in the front of your knee cap during exercise and afterward. These problems are called anterior knee pain (pain at the front of your knee) and patellofemoral syndrome (pain around or behind your kneecap).
Prevention: proper stretching and strengthening.
If you’ve suffered from runner’s knee, or even if you’re currently experiencing it, don’t despair! You can prevent it from happening again by taking a few simple steps. First, stretch thoroughly before and after your workout. Second, incorporate exercises that strengthen the muscles around your knees—particularly those on the front of each leg. Finally, listen to your body: know when enough is enough! If you have any pain while stretching or strengthening, stop immediately and consult a professional physical therapist.
See a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
If you think you have runner’s knee, see a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
A doctor can confirm the condition and determine appropriate treatment. They know the good treatment options can reduce pain and swelling in the area, as well as improve flexibility in the hip joint. For example, your doctor may recommend that you wear compression knee sleeves as an adjunctive therapy. The physical therapist may be able to help with strengthening exercises that target muscles around your knees and hips. In severe cases where symptoms are still severe after several months of conservative treatment (nonoperative), surgical repair of meniscus tears may be considered by some doctors.
We hope that this article has helped you understand runner’s knee. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
