Why Does the Front of Your Knee Ache with Running?
If you’ve ever been running and felt a deep ache near your kneecap, odds are you are dealing with a case of “runner’s knee”.
It may be tempting to just keep running through the pain, but doing this has the potential to result in permanent damage at your knee.
This article will explain exactly what runner’s knee is and what is the root issue to help you resolve your symptoms and return to running pain-free.
What is runner’s knee?
Runner’s knee is a diagnosis that is often given to pain that occurs in the front portion of your knee near your kneecap with running. Another name for runner’s knee is patellofemoral pain syndrome.
What are the symptoms of runner’s knee?
The symptoms of runner’s knee are often described as a deep ache or sharp pain near or directly underneath the kneecap that is brought on when the individual starts to run.
If the issue is severe, you can generate an inflammatory response underneath your kneecap at the knee joint that creates symptoms that linger up to 48 hours after running as well.
This is why some runner’s may report their knee pain disrupts their sleep on a day after they have ran a significant distance.
What causes runner’s knee?
Runner’s knee is often caused by excessive compression of the patella (your kneecap) on the femur with running.
This excessive compression happens because your kneecap is not tracking appropriately along your femur as you run. This causes it to run into the ridges of the femur bone and results in pain.
Your kneecap tracking can be improved by addressing any soft tissue or joint mobility deficits along with strength in your leg and hip muscles.
Potential Diagnoses
While runner’s knee can happen without any other concurrent diagnoses, it is often accompanied by one of the following diagnoses:
- Patellar tendinitis
- Quadriceps tendinitis
- Knee valgus alignment (knees that fall inward)
- Osteoarthritis
Did you know?
Did you know if you ignore your runner’s knee you could cause potential long-term damage to your kneecap?
If you continue to run with runner’s knee and never seek out treatment, you could cause the bottom side of your patella to degenerate from all the grinding. And if the bottom surface degenerates significantly, this could cause pain with simpler activities like walking.
This is why it is critical to seek out treatment for your runner’s knee when your symptoms first begin so you can avoid potential long-term pain and dysfunction.
What is an ACL, MCL, and LCL tear?
An ACL tear is a tear of your anterior cruciate ligament which helps to stabilise your tibia from sliding too far forward on your femur.
A MCL tear or LCL tear are tears of your medial collateral ligament and lateral collateral ligament. These ligaments function to help stabilise your inner and outer knee.
What are the symptoms of an ACL, MCL, and LCL tear?
When you tear any of these ligaments, you will likely experience pain and swelling in the knee joint. If it is an MCL or LCL tear, the pain may be located on your inner or outer knee respectively.
If the tear is bad enough, you may also experience significant bruising surrounding your knee indicating you have severely torn the ligament.
What causes an ACL, MCL, and LCL tear?
ACL, MCL, and LCL tears are most commonly caused by trauma. They typically involve a mechanism in which the knee twists inward hard and fast. This is why athletes who do lots of cutting motions are at a greater risk for these ligamentous tears.
They can also occur as a result of a fall to the ground in any direction.
Potential Diagnoses
While it is possible to tear these ligaments each on their own, they will commonly be torn together (especially the ACL and MCL).
If you have not fully torn one of these ligaments, you will receive the diagnosis of a ligamentous sprain instead of a tear.
Did you know?
Did you know that if you tear your ACL it could take up to 9 to 12 months before you can return to play sports fully again?
These ligaments are particularly slow to heal and are also extremely prone to re-injury if you return to playing your sport too soon.
This is why it is critical that you seek out help from a skilled practitioner if you suspect you have injured any of these ligaments, so they can get you on the road to recovery as quickly as possible.
How is ACL, MCL, LCL Tear treated?
At The Hijama Clinic we are specialised in assessing and treating people with ACL, MCL, LCL Tear.
At The Hijama Clinic Manchester we will do a thorough assessment in order to find the real cause of your injury. A treatment plan will be developed to ensure a speedy recovery with long term results and no recurrence. An Individualised exercise program will be prescribed to you as well.
The Hijama Clinic Manchester is going to use some of the modalities below as assessment and treatment tools (click on the links below for more information).
- CUPPING
- ACUPUNCTURE
- MANUAL THERAPY
If you would like more information of how THE HIJAMA CLINIC Manchester can help with this condition, or to book an assessment please call:
Website: http://thehijamaclinic.com/
or BOOK ONLINE: https://TheHolisticHealthcentre.as.me/
WhatsApp : 0788-788-77-01
Email: TheHijamaClinic.com@gmail.com
