Runners Knee is called patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). It is a problem that responds very well to physiotherapy treatment and there is a reasonable amount of research evidence behind what we do.
The pain arises from around or under the patella (knee-cap) and can be as a result of it not tracking properly in its groove. There are some common risk factors that can affect how the patella tracks.”
These include:
- The resting position of the patella
- The muscles around the knee
- Hip and pelvis control
- Foot position
What causes runner’s knee?
- Changes in load can be one of the biggest factors. So this could be related to the volume or intensity of your training.
- Biomechanics, relating to the way you move, can also affect the relative load through the patellofemoral joint.
- Footwear can also be a risk factor. It is important that you wear appropriate footwear.
- Training surface: if you change where you train this can also sometimes put you at risk of injury.
While there are a range of options on how to treat “runner’s knee,” getting educated about it is an important first step.
