What is Runners Knee?
Runners knee is a common knee condition. It is characterised by pain below or behind the knee cap, or towards the inside aspect of the knee. This pain is commonly made worse by running, as well as walking up and down stairs, squatting or sitting for extended periods.
The pain experienced in runner’s knee is typically caused by abnormal tracking of the knee cap. As the knee bends and straightens through its natural range of motion, the patella is pulled off course.
Over time, this leads to generalised wear and tear of the cartilage on the back of the knee cap. Further injury can also occur with tendons within the knee.
Symptoms of Runners Knee
The most common symptoms of Patella Femoral Pain Syndrome or Runners knee are:
- Pain over the front of the knee, or knee cap when sitting for long periods of time
- During exercise that repeatedly stresses the knee, such as running or squatting, pain will be present.
- Increase in pain as exercise frequency, duration and intensity increases
- cracking and popping sounds in the knee when walking up stairs.
In addition, you may also like to consider the following factors as they will contribute:
- Tightness in the hamstrings
- Calves that are short and tight
- Do you have difficulty performing a lunge and maintaining stability when you do
- Difficulty balancing on one foot which is exasperated when your eyes are closed
Our Treatment Approach to your Runners Knee
As Sports Chiropractors, our treatment main aim is two fold.
Initially we decrease the symptoms within the knee.
Once this is under control, we shift our focus to improving the biomechanics in your hips down to your ankles.
This will improve your running style, as well as avoid any further injury into the future.
In order to decrease the initially presenting symptoms we may use a range of techniques, some of which may include:
- Myofascial Dry Needling. This is to relieve muscular tension and remove swelling that may be present in or around the knee joint itself.
- Muscular Release Techniques. To relieve muscular tension and address the overactive muscles. These overactive muscles compensate for the weak and under active muscles.
- Joint Mobilisation and manipulation. This is to restore the normal range of motion within the knee, as well as the hips and ankles.
- Lower Limb Rehabilitation. This will involve strength and conditioning exercises to help strengthen the weaker areas around the knee. It will also improve overall biomechanical function of the lower limb.
