Runner’s knee is the most common overuse injury among runners. Accounting for roughly 20 percent of all running injuries.
It occurs when a misalignment kneecap (patella) irritates the femoral groove in which it rests on the thighbone (femur).
Symptoms of runner’s knee are:
The main symptom is pain below the kneecap that is generally mild at first and experienced only during running but becomes progressively more intense during running and also increasingly felt at rest if training continues.
Other symptoms include:
• Pain when you bend the knee — when walking, squatting, kneeling, running, or even rising from a chair.
• Pain that’s worse when walking downstairs or downhill.
• Swelling.
• Grinding sensations in the knee.
Causes:
It is very hard to identify a single cause for runner’s knee. Experts suggest a number of factors can contribute runners knee including biomechanical factors, muscle weakness, weakness in the hip abductors and hip external rotators.
Treatment:
• Apply ice to the area for 15 – 20 minutes after running to reduce swelling.
• Rest the knee
• Compress your knee. Use an elastic bandage, patellar straps, or sleeves to give your knee extra support.
• Practice stretching and strengthening exercises. Ask your physical therapist for guidance.
Feel free to contact any of our physiotherapists here at Kerry Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation Centre.
Email: info@kerryphysiotherapy.ie
Telephone: 064-6670960
