Runner’s Knee is the common term given to a range of conditions that can cause pain around the knee. They include Patellar Femoral Syndrome, Patellar Femoral Malalignment, Chondromalacia Patellar and ITB syndrome.
How can one term mean so many things?
Basically the term ‘Runner’s Knee’ is about having pain in the knee. It doesn’t necessarily have to happen when running. Your GP or physiotherapist will take a details history of how your injured your knee and then do a physical examination of your knee to determine which actual diagnosis is the cause of your knee pain.
What can bring it on?
- Overuse -repetitive bending and loading of your such as high-stress exercises, like lunges and plyometrics (training that uses the way your muscles lengthen and shorten to boost their power), can irritate the tissues in and around your kneecap.
- A direct hit to the knee, like from a fall or car accident
- Your bones aren’t lined up (malalignment). If any of the bones from your hips to your ankles are out of their correct position, including the kneecap, that can put too much pressure on certain spots. Then your kneecap won’t move smoothly through its groove, which can cause pain
- Problems with your feet. Everyone’s feet are different, some are flat, some have high arches, others are really stiff or hypermobile. These same attributes can increase load around the knee.
- Weak or unbalanced thigh muscles. The muscles surrounding a joint work together to with opposing force to keep the bones of the knee centred. The big muscles in the front of your thigh, Quadriceps, keep your kneecap in place when you bend or stretch the joint. If they’re weak or tight, your kneecap may not stay in the right spot.
- Chondromalacia patella, a condition in which the cartilage under your kneecap softens and breaks down.
What are the main symptoms?
There is evidence mounting against injection of tendons, and While the research is unsure of the best course of action for recovery from Pain is the biggest symptom that patient report. The pain can be:
- Usually in front of the knee, however it can around the knee and in behind the knee
- Felt during loading activities such as stairs, running, incline or decline walking or running, squats or getting up from a chair or out of the car.
The area around the knee could also swell, or have a grinding or popping sensation.
How can you diagnosis my knee pain?
Usually a physiotherapist can diagnosis your knee pain with a combination of your history of knee pain, how it happened and where your pain is. They combine that with a through examination of your knee. At Vitalis Physiotherapy we will also work out why are you overloading the knee. We will treat the immediate knee pain and show you why you overloaded the knee and how to resolve the loading issue.
How can I treat my Runner’s Knee?
Every knee is different with how the injury happened and healing times. Here are some things that you can do to start to heal your knee.
- Active Rest – avoid the activities that cause pain, such as running or stairs
- Ice the Knee – if there is swelling present, ice will help reduce it and thus reduce your pain
- Get it assessed by a professional – A physiotherapist can assess your knee, diagnose the issue and help you on your way to recovery.
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