Why Do My Knees Hurt After Running?

You don’t have to be a marathon runner or a track star to suffer from knee pain. From people improving their fitness to weekend warriors, repeated athletic activity can make you susceptible to experiencing a condition known as runner’s knee.

What is Runner’s Knee?

Runner’s knee is a general term used to describe the discomfort you feel if you have one of several knee problems. Sometimes referred to as patellofemoral pain syndrome, the name refers to pain in the front of the knee and around the patella (kneecap).

For many people, runner’s knee is an overuse injury caused by physical activity that puts repeated stress on the knee—such as jogging, squatting or climbing stairs. A sudden increase in activity, use of improper training techniques, use of certain footwear or running on certain types of surfaces are all factors that may contribute to runner’s knee.

What are the Symptoms of Runner’s Knee?

Runner’s knee symptoms often begin gradually. A common sign is dull aching knee pain when walking upstairs or downstairs. The pain is usually focused on the front of the knee and around the patella (kneecap) and typically worsens with activities that require repeated bending of the knee.

Knee stiffness and popping or cracking sound are also commonly reported symptoms. Some people have reported minor swollen knees from running; however, runner’s knee is not known to cause severe swelling or bruising.

If it goes untreated for a long period of time, runner’s knee can damage the cartilage of the knee and hasten the development of arthritis.

How is Runner’s Knee Treated?

The easiest way to treat runner’s knee is to stop running until you no longer experience knee pain. Experts recommend using the RICE (Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevate) formula as a part of your recovery process:

• Rest – Avoid putting weight on your knee as much as possible.
• Ice – Use ice or a cold compress to reduce swelling.
• Compress – Use a knee sleeve with the kneecap cut out while moving.
• Elevate – Lie down and keep your knee raised higher than your heart.

When these methods do not provide relief, nonsurgical treatment is the preferred way to treat runner’s knee, with most people recovering successfully after physical therapy. The goals of treatment are to relieve knee pain, increase the strength of the muscles around the knee and reduce knee stiffness (thus restoring normal range of motion).

Alleviate Your Knee Pain

At YourOrthoSolution, we employ some of the top orthopedic surgeons and sports medicine physicians in the country. We specialize in knee conditions and are dedicated to getting you back to the things you love through a customized plan that fits you. Click here to see a list of our centers and their contact information so that you can get back to the activities you love.