Most common cause of knee pain from running

Image Credit: TheUsher 

You may have had an episode of knee pain from running. This is a common problem especially for sportspeople who put excessive stress on their knees. This culminates in a medical condition where there is pain around the front area of the knee. This is medically referred to as anterior knee pain syndrome, chondromalacia patella, patellofemoral mal-alignment or more commonly, the patellofemoral pain.

Causes

The knee is a very complex joint. It is made up of various different tissues. This means that there are many factors that may precipitate in anterior knee pain syndrome. This could be problems arising from the bones, muscles or other connective tissues in the knee.

The most common causes of runner’s knee include;

• Misalignment of the kneecap
• Dislocation of the knee which may be partial or complete
• Trauma or injury to the knee; this could be direct or indirect
• Myopathy; this is a problem with the muscles around the knee or those that move the knee. The problem could be weakness, imbalance or tightness among other things.
• Individuals with flat feet frequently experience the problem
• Overuse pain is common to people who walk stand or run for extended durations
• Irritation of the knee joint tissue is also fairly common in active sportsmen and women
• Wearing off of the cartilage or synovial membrane that lines the knee may result in pain in the joint

Presentation of symptoms

People with this problem complain of a dull ache or pain beneath or around the kneecap. The pain is often localized around the lower end of the thigh. 

Mostly the pain will be made worse or be precipitated by walking especially up and down the stairs, activities that bend and stress the knee such as kneeling, sitting for long periods and squatting. All these activities make the pain worse if they are done for extended durations.

Diagnosis

A medical history will be taken whereby you will be asked about the symptoms. Be as honest as possible. You will then undergo a physical examination aimed at assessing various attributes of your knee such as strength, mobility and congruency or alignment. 

Depending on your condition the doctor may ask that you undertake some diagnostic imaging procedures to assess the structure and extent of damage to your knee. Such imaging techniques could be x-ray, MRI or CT scans.

Treatment

After a medical review has been done on the affected knee, the doctor will then decide on the most fitting course of treatment for your condition. 

Most people only require adequate rest and appropriate patellofemoral pain syndrome exercises to alleviate the condition.

Symptomatic relief to the pain may be achieved by painkillers especially NSAID drugs such as aspirin. 

You may be issued with special braces or tapes for supporting your knee during activities such as sports. Special shoe insets known as orthotics may be also prescribed.

Surgical maneuvers may be necessary in some cases. The procedures include: arthroscopy and realignment procedures.

Prevention

Physical fitness is crucial in preventing anterior knee pain. In sports a proper warm up is always advised. The training or exercise should be progressive beginning from simple to more complex activities.

Proper running gear and form are also excellent in preventing anterior knee pain.

Inside Kneecap Pain After Running

Because of the complex structure of the knees, it can be hard to pinpoint problem areas especially when it’s

coming from the inside. If you’re sensing knee pain from running and you are certain that the problem is internal, you should consult your doctor so that proper diagnosis and treatment can be made.

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) can show symptoms both on the outer and inner part of the kneecap. If the problem is internal, there could be swelling of tissues underneath the knee cap. This can be quite painful as the knee cap moves every time you walk and run; and when this rubs on affected tissues, the pain can really be unbearable.

Unlike Meniscus injury and ligament injury, PFPS very seldom requires surgery as this can often be fixed by rehabilitation procedures. By doing the stretches included in the program of patellofemoral pain syndrome exercises, a patient can effectively recover from this condition.

Resting is also a part of the overall treatment procedure as this would allow the tissues to heal naturally. In the same context, keeping up with strenuous activities can cause more damage. And you will never recover from experiencing knee pain from running because of this.

Meniscus Injury and Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome Exercises

Meniscus refers to a group of tissues that are comprised of cartilages. This can be found on joints such as your knee joints and it functions as a shock absorber when your bones are rubbing against each other. The meniscus also facilitates smooth movements when you’re performing tasks that require your motor skills.

The meniscus membrane can get damaged when exposed to too much trauma such as when you engage in sports. Some of the symptoms of having damaged meniscus tissues include pain, swelling, locking of the knee, and sudden inability to move your joints.

Minor cases of meniscus injury can improve with patellofemoral pain syndrome exercises; but serious cases may require surgical procedures. So if you suspect having this type of knee injury, seek medical attention at once.

Ligament Injury

Aside from muscles, you also have ligaments on the inner part of your knee joints. Ligaments can tear when exposed to sudden twists and similar types of trauma such as when one jumps and makes a bad landing.

The symptoms of having damaged ligaments on the knees will depend on the gravity of the problem. If there’s just a partial tear, only minor pain and swelling can occur. But a complete tear can be really painful; and it may even require surgery.

When to Seek Medical Advice

For mild forms of body pain that can simply be attributed to overworking certain parts of the body, just getting some rest will often result in full recovery in no time. However, if you notice that the pain and symptoms are recurring and progressing into something worse, then it would be wise to consult your doctor about it.

Should You Still Run?

Listen to your body and don’t force yourself to run if your knees are already painful. Note that your knees have joints, ligaments, cartilages and tissues that can be damaged, and ignoring pain could lead to serious problems. You can suffer from torn ligaments, damaged muscles, dislocations, and fractures if you experience knee pain from running and simply choose to ignore the symptoms.