Many people experience pain and discomfort around and behind the knee cap while running. Running and knee injuries are common and to understand the relation between running and knee pain, we must first understand the structure of the knee. The knee consists of four bones. The femur is the large thigh bone which is attached to the tibia by a capsule and ligaments. Below that is the fibula which is located parallel to the tibia. The patella is referred to as the knee cap. When the knee bends, the patella rides on the joint of the knee. Movement of the knee does not consist of only straightening and bending. There is also a small amount of rotation. This may be the reason why knee injuries are so common. The muscles which extend across the knee joint are the hamstrings and the quadriceps. The hamstrings are located at the back area of the knee, while the quadriceps are present in the frontal portion of the knee. The joint is held together by the ligaments.
Knee injury occurs commonly while running and knee pain is likely to occur as a result of this. Knee pain mostly occurs in runners who have just begun to increase their distance to about 40 miles each week. There may be a clicking sound while running and the pain is likely to worsen after rest periods or when running downhill. Runner’s knee occurs due to a muscular imbalance of the legs and feet. It does not really concern the structures that surround the knee cap. The knee cap continues to move smoothly so that there is balance while running. But the muscles of the legs and feet may become imbalanced, causing the knees to move oddly. This results in grinding of the cartilage against the knee cap. Running with runners knee is therefore not recommended. Foot imbalance could result from unevenness of the surface, speed and increased mileage. Some runners experience knee pain at the top of the tibia, which is the inside knee. This pain may also extend down to the feet.
Knee Pain Treatments: Knee pain must be treated initially with an ice compress. This will help to protect from swelling and inflammation. After 24 hours, heat application may be used. This will prevent locking or stiffening of the muscles. In some cases, a knee brace may be recommended. These braces help to prevent further injury from taking place and also allow for proper healing. One may also need to alter the pattern of movement when running in the future. Running with runner’s knee could aggravate the condition and it is advisable to consult a doctor regarding this.