Runner’s knee often occurs in teenagers, manual labourers and athletes. Sometimes it is caused by wearing down, roughening, or softening of the cartilage under the kneecap. Whatever the cause, it can be really painful, making your training a misery.

The medical term for this condition is “chondromalacia patellae”.

Causes

Runner’s knee is the result of a muscular imbalance in the legs and feet or it may result from the normal aging process, uneven pressure exerted on the knee joint, injury or overuse. Foot imbalance or pronation can also lead to a person’s kneecap being out of balance. In runners, the condition can be made worse by a sudden increase in distance, speed and/or running on uneven surfaces.

Symptoms

Symptoms include increased pain and pressure on the underside of the knee cap, which is usually more intense when the muscles are tense or the knee is bent. Cracking and popping noises beneath or on both sides of the kneecap also indicate runner’s knee.

These symptoms are more pronounced when you kneel down, go down stairs or do squats. It is also quite common that stiffness occurs from prolonged sitting. Usually pain gradually develops over a period of time (often a year or sometimes longer). When it feels like the kneecap is gliding over a rough surface, the problem may have developed into a form of arthritis.

Treatment

    • Reduce the inflammation and pain by placing ice on your knees immediately after running
    • Take a couple of days off running and be sure you do not exercise when you experience pain
    • Always wear the right type of running shoes for your foot type and never exercise in worn-out shoes
    • Incorporate arch support in your shoes
    • Focus on strengthening and stretch exercises.

Prevention

The best preventative measure is proper exercise. Warm up before starting your training and vary your exercise routine. The flexibility of quadriceps, hip flexors and hamstrings is increased through stretching.

 

Sources

http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com
http://running.about.com

Home

http://orthopedics.about.com
http://www.mortonsfoot.com/

 

Revised by M van Deventer