Causes and Symptoms of Runner’s Knee

The medical terminology for Runner’s knee is Patellofemoral pain syndrome. According to a recent study, it is the most common form of running ailment and is known to be accountable for about 16.5 percent of the injuries.

Runner’s knee is featured by a dull pain that occurs either around or behind the top of the kneecap. Some of the physical activities that can worsen the pain associated with a Runner’s knee are prolonged sitting, descending stairs, running downhill, and squatting. Thus, training can be a tough proposition when you suffer from this ailment.

If you are ailing from patellofemoral pain syndrome or PFPS, you may also experience pain even when you don’t extend your legs, and it is also accompanied by tenderness while pushing against the kneecap. PFPS has got its name from the cause of its pain i.e. the kneecap or the patella that rubs against the femur’s groove sliding back and forth as the patient flexes and extends the knee.

Causes for Runner’s knee

From the name itself, it becomes clear that a Runner’s knee is an extremely common ailment experienced by many runners. However, it can also happen to an athlete who is into all such activities that need a lot of bending of knees such as jumping, biking and walking. The ailment typically causes pain around the kneecap. Runner’s knee can occur due to the following causes:

A direct trauma caused to a knee - This can happen due to a blow or a fall.

Overuse of knees - When you tend to do exercises involving high stress like plyometrics and lunges or repeat bending of the knees. Another major cause of runner’s knee can be overstretched tendons.

Malalignment - When any bone in the knee is misaligned or is out of its proper position, there is an uneven distribution of physical stress in the body. As a result, some body parts may experience higher stresses. As a result, there can be injury and pain in your joints. At times, even the kneecap can be a bit out of its correct position.

Muscle imbalance or weak thigh muscles- When your thigh muscles become weak, the load on your knee’s isolated sections can be disproportionate resulting in pain and abnormal wear patterns.

Problems related to feet - Hypermobile feet can lead to Runner’s knee. A hypermobile feet is a condition where the joints related to a feet are subject to more movement than what is normal. It can also occur due to flat feet or fallen arches. Such conditions where a step’s impact may cause your foot’s arch to collapse may stress the knee’s tissues and joints excessively

Runner’s knee- symptoms:

Swelling

Pain being experienced around or behind a kneecap, particularly at the meeting point of the kneecap and the thighbone

Grinding or popping sensations in the knee

Any knee pain that further aggravates when you walk downhill or downstairs

You feel pain when your knee is bent especially during running, kneeling, getting up from a chair, squatting or walking.

Your doctor will ask you to go through a detailed physical exam for diagnosing a Runner’s knee. You may also have to undergo Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRIs) and X-Rays for proper diagnosis.

Our physicians and practitioners at Phoenix Family Center can treat all types of knee joint pain and arthritis. Visit today at any of our walk-in clinics throughout Surprise, South Phoenix, Central Phoenix and near Tempe, AZ.

Tuesday, 10 May 2016 17:21, Published in Blog

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