What Are Common Knee Injuries from Running?

Intense pain in the knee joint, or shifting and popping sounds when you run indicates a knee problem. Knowing what exactly is causing the problem and how you can address it is necessary for continuing with your training. At Sports Injury & Pain Management Clinic, Dr. Febin Melepura offers multiple pain relief treatments and remedies for treating your knee pain most effectively. He is a sports injury doctor and highly rated pain management specialist in NYC who knows all about knee injuries and what causes them. Dr. Melepura recommends the safest and most effective treatment options that help you get back on your feet and running in no time.

Running is a great way to stay fit. Cardiovascular exercise gets your blood pumping and burns fat effectively. Not only this, it also puts you in a good mood. Running can be quite an enjoyable activity if you develop a habit. However, too much running, poor running techniques, changes in your running routine, or wear and tear in the body can result in knee injuries and other painful conditions that can turn your refreshing morning jog into a discomforting experience.

What Causes Knee Pain?

The knee is a complex part of our anatomy. It is tough, and flexible and provides movement and mobility while bearing the weight of your body, but it is also vulnerable to stress and damage. Knee pain can result from improper function or damage to the cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and muscles of the knee. Knee pain is common in athletes who put too much strain on their legs and knee joints.

Discomfort can show up in many different forms, from pain behind your knee to inner knee pain and posterior knee pain.

Read on to learn about the different types of knee injuries, what causes them, and what you can do to get back to running without any pain.

Common Knee Injuries That Result From Running

Runner’s Knee

It is one of the most common knee problems that runners face at some point due to repeated stress on the knee joint. Also known as patellofemoral pain syndrome, this condition is characterized by pain around or behind the knee cap. The pain occurs when you run, bend, squat, or even after you have sat for a while.

It can result from overuse, muscle imbalances, and poor running mechanics. Most people develop a runner’s knee after they start running at an incline or increase miles or speed. As the cartilage in the kneecap gets irritated, it can cause mild to moderate pain that can worsen as the intensity of exercise increases.

Treatment for runner’s knee includes:

• Taking a break from running and giving a rest to your knee
• Applying ice packs
• Wearing a knee brace or strap to provide support
• Securing the knee in one position to reduce pain and inflammation
• Physical therapy that focuses on stretching and strengthening exercises to increase knee flexibility
• Trying low-impact activities such as swimming to stay active

Iliotibial (IT) Band Syndrome

The IT band is a thick band of fibrous tissue that begins at the hips, runs along the outside of the thigh, and attaches to the top of the shinbone. Repeated bending and straightening can cause the iliotibial band to thicken and rub against the lower part of your thigh bone, which forms part of the knee joint. This causes inflammation and pain on the outer side of the knee.

It is a common overuse injury and often occurs when runners increase their mileage.

Treatment for Iliotibial Band Syndrome includes:

• Taking complete rest from running to let the body and the IT band heal
• Avoiding activities that could cause knee pain
• Icing to keep the inflammation and pain down
• Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication to reduce pain
• Stretching and strengthening exercises to strengthen the hip muscles, glutes, and hip abductors

Seeking expert guidance on your running stance, technique, and footwear can help immensely, and prevent the pain and inflammation from coming back. A strengthening program and manual therapy, such as trigger points, improve the flexibility of your knee and speed up recovery.

Jumper’s Knee

Also called patellar tendonitis, it is an overuse and aging injury of the tendon that connects the kneecap to the shinbone. It affects your knee when a tendon is overloaded, causing it to thicken. This injury is more common in athletes with lots of running and jumping, such as volleyball, basketball, and track and field, or when you increase your mileage.

Repeated stress on the knee joint due to strenuous activities can cause small tears in the patellar tendon, resulting in pain and inflammation. Jumper’s knee typically begins in adolescence or early adulthood.

Common symptoms of jumper’s knee include:

• Pain beneath the kneecap when moving
• Swelling
• Bruising or redness
• Leg or calf weakness
• Loss of strength in the knee
• Pain and stiffness of the knee while squatting, jumping, or kneeling

Treatment for jumper’s knee includes:

• Taking a break from running and jumping until the pain subsides
• Applying ice on the affected area to relieve pain
• Wearing a knee strap that supports the knee from just below the kneecap and relieves stress on the tendon
• Choosing low-impact activities until the knee is healed
• Massage

An orthopedic or physical expert can evaluate your running mechanics and recommend strengthening exercises that focus on the quadriceps and enhance your knee flexibility. They can also guide you on the best ways to return to running without further injury.

Knee Stress Fracture

Increasing the amount or intensity of an activity, such as running or running too quickly, can lead to a stress fracture. Also known as a hairline fracture, it is an injury in which a small crack develops in your kneecap due to repeated stress on the area. Running on unfamiliar surfaces such as a rocky path rather than grass, improper equipment like worn out or less flexible running shoes, and increased physical stress can also result in a knee stress fracture.

Treatment for knee stress fracture includes:

• Resting
• Icing
• Elevating the knee
• Reducing or eliminating activities and sports that cause further pain
• Using crutches to help rest the knee and give it time to heal

A stress fracture can cause swelling and pain in the knee and needs medical intervention to heal in most cases. If left untreated, a stress fracture can result in a complete fracture or a displaced fracture that would require surgery.

Cartilage Degeneration

The cartilage in your knees can wear out and thin due to excessive running. This results in friction between the bones of the knee joint, which causes pain when you move your knee.

Knee-strengthening exercises can help reduce the strain on the joint and strengthen the muscles around the knee. However, it is important to avoid high-impact exercises as they increase the strain on the joint. Some people require surgery to manage their condition if it is causing too much pain and affecting mobility.

Knee injuries range from minor to severe, so it is essential to take a break from running and see your doctor if the pain persists.

When to See Your Doctor for Knee Pain?

If running is a significant part of your life, take your knee pain seriously and see a doctor. Pain that does not go away after exercise or is persistent every time you perform an activity needs medical attention.

Call your doctor if you:

• Cannot bear weight on your knee
• Feel unstable on your knee
• Have knee pain that persists even after rest and medication
• Have pain that is affecting your routine activities like getting dressed or sleeping

Another key indicator that it is time to see a doctor is swelling on your knee. Unexplained knee swelling or redness may be a sign of a serious health concern, so get it checked as soon as possible. Your doctor will examine your knee joint carefully and may order imaging tests like X-ray, CT scan, or MRI for accurate diagnosis of the pain.

Untreated minor knee pain or injury may go away, but chances are they will return and lead to more pain and damage. Timely treatment not only helps in relieving knee pain but also prevents further knee problems, which could lead to complications, including disability if you are not careful.

Do you have concerns about your knee pain – Call Sports Injury & Pain Management Clinic today and schedule an appointment with Dr. Febin Melepura for knee injury evaluation and treatment plan for quick relief. If you are experiencing knee pain, tenderness, swelling, or more severe symptoms after running, you need quick treatment to prevent a one-time injury or pain from becoming a long-term health issue. Dr. Melepura focuses on eliminating pain and takes care of your bones, joints, and overall well-being with the most advanced treatment care, specifically designed to meet your individual needs.

Febin Melepura, MD is a top rated, best in class interventional pain management doctor. He is a nationally recognized pain relief specialist and is among the top pain care doctors in New York City and the country. He is an award winning expert and contributor to a prominent media outlets.

Dr. Febin Melepura has been recognized for his thoughtful, thorough, modern approach to treating chronic pain and, among other accolades, has been named a “top pain management doctor in New York”, and one of “America’s Top Doctors™” for an advanced sports injury treatments.

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