Active people can experience knee pain related to overuse, known as runner’s knee, which can keep them from exercising and enjoying the activities they love. At Reflex Knee Specialists, we offer non-surgical treatments to treat knee pain and its causes, including runner’s knee. With locations in Oregon, Washington, and Arizona, the team at Reflex Knee Specialists aims to increase access to conservative treatments that help patients get back to being active without pain. Here, we discuss runner’s knee, its signs and symptoms, and the runner’s knee treatments available at Reflex Knee Specialists.
What Is Runner’s Knee?
Runner’s knee is a term used to describe dull pain around the front of the kneecap (patella), although it’s not actually a specific injury. The medical term is patellofemoral pain syndrome, which refers to anterior knee pain caused by a variety of factors, and is commonly seen in long-distance runners. This condition is most often related to overusing the knee in various activities, including running, squatting, and jumping. Overuse irritates the soft tissues of the knee, leading to the pain associated with runner’s knee. It often develops when these activities are done too long, too frequently, or without proper warmups.
Although the condition is called runner’s knee, it can also affect other athletes like weightlifters, cyclists, hikers, skiers, and soccer players. Runner’s knee can be related to other causes, not just running and sports. It can also be the result of:
- Structural defects, such as a kneecap that is too high or having uneven leg length
- Inadequate stretching or warming up before exercise
- Weak thigh and hip muscles
- Tight hamstrings
- Tight Achilles tendons
- Poor foot support or flat feet
- Excessive training or overuse
- Injury or trauma to the kneecap
Along with the dull pain in the front of the knee, common symptoms of runner’s knee include clicking sounds, grinding, swelling, and tenderness of the kneecap. Runner’s knee pain usually worsens with activities like going up stairs, bending the knees, or sitting for long periods.
Risk Factors of Runner’s Knee
Certain risk factors may increase a person’s chances of developing runner’s knee other than those listed above are:
- Gender: Females are more likely to be affected by runner’s knee than males because they have wider hips and different knee alignments.
- Obesity: People who are overweight are more likely to develop runner’s knee than those who aren’t because of the additional strain on the knees.
- Positions: People who continuously sit in cross-legged or bent knee positions have higher chances of getting runner’s knee than those who don’t because of the strain on the knees.
If a person has activity-related knee pain in the front of their knee, they should speak with their doctor and get checked out. When a patient has dull knee pain that is exacerbated by activity, their healthcare provider will examine their knee to see if runner’s knee is the likely diagnosis and discuss options on how to manage it.
Non-Surgical Treatment Options for Runner’s Knee
If knee pain is determined to be caused by runner’s knee, it can generally be treated using conservative, non-surgical treatment methods. The main treatment is stopping the running or exercising that causes the pain until the knee recovers. Other conservative treatments include:
- Medications: Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, can help provide pain relief.
- RICE method:Using the RICE method (rest, ice, compression, elevation) can help reduce pain.
- Weight loss: Losing weight can help reduce the strain on the knees and, therefore, can help reduce the degree of pain.
- Physical Therapy: Physical therapy can help restore the full range of motion in the knee and correct movements that may have contributed to runner’s knee. An effective PT program will also strengthen the muscles that support the knee for long-term benefit.
- Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP): For cases of Runner’s Knee that is unresponsive to conservative measures, PRP can be considered an option to help boost healing and decrease pain.
- Arch support: Wearing arch support inside shoes can be beneficial for preventing the knee from rotating inward and causing runner’s knee pain.
Wearing supportive running shoes, learning proper running form, and stretching before workouts can also help provide relief from or prevent developing runner’s knee. The treatments prescribed often will vary depending on the patient’s symptoms and overall health.
Reflex Knee Specialists is a knee-focused medical clinic providing non-surgical treatments for knee injuries like runner’s knee, including comprehensive knee evaluations, physical therapy, and more. In severe cases, surgery may be needed if the knee cartilage is damaged or the kneecap needs realignment. However, non-surgical treatment options usually are effective in treating runner’s knee.
Request a Consultation for Runner’s Knee Treatment
Patients with knee pain that affects their favorite activities often feel like they are on the sidelines and that life is passing them by. Having limited mobility and pain can make patients feel left out and less engaged with others. The team at Reflex Knee Specialists offers non-surgical treatments to get patients in Portland, OR, Bellevue, WA, and Tempe, AZ, out of pain and back to their active lifestyles. Request an appointment with a knee specialist today to learn more about our runner’s knee treatments. Call 503-719-6783 or contact us today.