As the name suggests, running is a common cause of runner’s knee, but any activity that repeatedly stresses the knee joint can cause the disorder. This can include walking, skiing, biking, jumping, and cycling.
Runner’s knee is typically a dull, aching pain around or behind the kneecap, or patella, especially where it meets the lower part of the thigh bone or femur. You may feel pain when:
- Walking
- Climbing or descending stairs
- Squatting
- Kneeling
- Running
- Sitting down or standing up
- Sitting for a long time with the knee bent
Prevention
Pain from runner’s knee can typically be assisted with physical therapy or time off from physical activity, however, it is possible for the injury to recur if you do not make adjustments to your training routine or activity level. It is essential to maintain appropriate conditioning of the muscles around the knee. Additional preventative measures include:
- Make sure to ease into your exercise. Warming up sufficiently before exercise as well as stretching thoroughly after exercise can decrease your risk of getting runner’s knee and a variety of other injuries.
- Mix your exercise up. Varying the types of exercise you do can safeguard you from overuse injuries such as runner’s knee. For example, rather than running every day, you could switch up your routine to include biking and swimming. Alternate different kinds of exercise to decrease your risk of runner’s knee.
- Make sure you have the right gear. The right kind of running shoe for your specific gait and needs can help to decrease your risk for overuse injuries. As your shoes are worn down, know when you need to purchase new ones to ensure they are providing the support you need.
- Be aware of your surroundings. You’re more likely to develop an injury like runner’s knee when you play sports or exercise on uneven or hard surfaces. Try alternating surfaces as you run and play sports.
- Don’t delay treatment. If you suspect that you’ve injured yourself and are experiencing symptoms of runner’s knee, don’t hesitate to reach out to a doctor for medical care. As you rest and follow your treatment plan, you’ll be able to recover much more quickly than if you kept exercising and tried to ignore the pain.
Dr. Hicken is experienced in sports and knee injuries. He has seen it all through his numerous years of experience and can provide a diagnosis and treatment plan for you so you can get back in the game. If you notice symptoms of runner’s knee or you’re experiencing any other kind of joint pain from exercising, you can trust Dr. Hicken to provide a correct diagnosis and work with you through recovery. Depending on the severity of your injury, Dr. Hicken will recommend anything from conservative treatment to surgery. No matter what your treatment plan is, you can rest assured that Dr. Hicken has your best interest and recovery in mind.
To schedule your appointment with him, please give us a call at 435-787-2000.
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