Runner’s knee – causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

Runner’s knee is a common term in use. It is associated primarily with people overloading the knee joint as a result of intense running training. This term is used to describe the injury to the joint between the kneecap and the femur, characteristic of people who practice sports that put excessive strain on the knees. These types of sports, apart from running, include skiing, skating, football and cycling. Continuously overloaded knee is subject to numerous injuries in the form of microtraumas. Unfortunately, these small changes add up over time and result in a bigger injury that is impossible to miss.

What are the symptoms of a runner’s knee?

Characteristic symptom there is pain. Pain may appear unexpectedly and most often affect the front or side part knees. They intensify during exercise and in the case of assuming the position in which knee-joint is bent. Crackling, grinding, which gives the impression that bones are rubbing against each other, can be another unpleasant symptom. In advanced conditions, swelling may also appear knee joint. If these symptoms are not sporadic, but persist or even worsen, a medical consultation and professional diagnosis are necessary.

What are the causes of a runner’s knee?

As already mentioned, the main cause is permanent overloading the knee joint as a result of systematically trained sports discipline burdening this joint. In addition, there are several others causesthat could affect the development of this injury. These include, among others:

  1. disturbances in the production of synovial fluid, i.e. a substance that fills the joint and is designed to reduce friction in it,
  2. chondromalacia, i.e. softening of the patella cartilage,
  3. morphological pathologies of the patella,
  4. Growing pains in adolescence due to hormonal changes
  5. muscle spasms
  6. frequent walking in high heels,
  7. sitting for a long time in one position with bent knees.

Runner’s knee diagnosis

Full diagnostics can only be done by a qualified orthopedic doctor. In addition to an interview and physical examination, more advanced tests are most often necessary to diagnose the problem, for which the doctor will issue a referral. Belong to them:

  1. Magnetic resonance imaging of the knee – it is a very accurate non-invasive imaging test that allows you to assess the condition of all components that make up the knee joint,
  2. arthroscopy – is an invasive examination involving the insertion of a camera inside the knee joint that allows for a thorough inspection and assessment of the condition of the joint.

Treatment and rehabilitation of a runner’s knee

Depending on at what stage the problem was diagnosed and how extensive are the injuries of the patellofemoral joint, treatment and rehabilitation they can take a wide variety of forms. Treatment may consist of:

  1. pharmacological treatment, if the problem is detected relatively early, in conjunction with rehabilitation procedures. On the one hand, anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents are administered (most often from the group of NSAIDs – Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs), and on the other hand, supplements regenerating the articular cartilage (glucosamine, collagen, hyaluronic acid preparations). Hyaluronic acid can also be injected into the joint. It is also important to supplement with EFAs – Essential Fatty Acids and a proper diet rich in these acids, as they also have anti-inflammatory properties. Some herbs work in a similar way, e.g. ginger, turmeric;
  2. arthroscopy performed for therapeutic purposes, consisting in smoothing the damaged surfaces of cartilage or cutting soft tissues holding the kneecap in the wrong position;
  3. surgical operation.

Rehabilitation takes quite a long time (at least half a year) and the most common treatments used during it are:

  1. physiotherapeutic treatments, i.e. treatments with a magnetic field, laser, ultrasound, cryotherapy, iontophoresis, electrostimulation,
  2. massages,
  3. kinesiotaping, i.e. therapeutic knee patches glued in an appropriate way,
  4. kinesitherapy involving the performance of strictly prescribed exercises.

Unfortunately, there are often problems with runner’s knee require resignation from intensive training in a given field of sport. Return to physical activity after treatment and rehabilitation should take place gradually and under close medical supervision to avoid further overloads and complications. Returning to full form is not always possible, which is why it is so important prevention and early diagnosis.

Under prophylaxis First of all, one should remember about a rational training plan including sufficiently long periods for regeneration, properly selected footwear, well-conducted warm-up before training and stretching after training – this is a very important element preventing the formation of contractures. It is also worth following a healthy diet and avoiding ingredients that promote the development of inflammation in the body, such as animal fats, sugar, processed foods, and keep the body hydrated.

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