Runners Knee – The Most Common Cause of Knee Pain

Runner’s Knee is the common term for a condition called Patellofemoral Knee Pain Syndrome – a maltracking problem of the kneecap on the underlying bones. This maltracking is one of the most common causes of pain at the front of the kneecap, which is often triggered by activities including climbing stairs, kneeling, walking and running. 

During normal motion, your kneecap glides within a grove in your femur. As your knee bends, pressure is naturally applied to this groove from the backside of the kneecap.

In Runner’s Knee, a number of contributing factors cause the kneecap to be pulled slightly to the side of this ‘optimal groove’, making it rub against the femur. Then, during repetitive motions such as walking, running and climbing stairs this causes irritation on the surfaces at the back of the kneecap.

In some cases, a condition called chondromalacia patellae may also be present. This refers to a softening and breaking down of the cartilage on the underside of the kneecap if this condition continues for a long time. This can lead to inflammation of the synovium and pain in the underlying bone.

Your physiotherapist will initially assess your joint range of movement and muscle tension. Many of these muscles have insertions onto the knee cap; and can pull this bone out of its normal alignment. The treatment of this tightness often involves home exercises, stretching and manual therapy. 

Secondly, we must determine why these muscles have become tight in the first place. A tight muscle always highlights the presence of a weakness. It is only once this underlying weakness has been identified and addressed that your knee pain can be eradicated completely.