More than 18 million Americans registered for some type of running event in 2018, according to Running USA. In addition, there are many people who run but never enter a formal event. One reason running is so popular in this country could be because it’s an inexpensive yet effective form of exercise. However, it can also lead to knee, ankle and leg injuries. Here are three common knee injuries people get from running:
1. Patellofemoral syndrome
One knee injury running can lead to is patellofemoral syndrome. Also known as runner’s knee, this condition causes pain to develop under the kneecap, or patella. The pain of this condition may also feel like it’s coming from the front or edges of the patella. Runner’s knee is typically caused by tight muscles and a slightly out of place kneecap. What can happen is tight muscles pull on the patella, and this causes it to move slightly out of its normal position. In turn, this means the kneecap could rub against the thigh bone as your knee bends while running, which causes pain.
2. Iliotibial (IT) band syndrome
The iliotibial (IT) band is a structure that begins at the hip, runs along the thigh and attaches to the top of the shinbone. Your IT band must glide over the outside of the knee joint every time your knee bends. However, running can cause it to become overly tight, and this means it could rub against the bones in the knee. This irritation can cause the IT band to become inflamed and lead to pain on the outside of your knee. When this happens, you’ve developed a running knee injury called IT band syndrome.
3. Patellar tendinitis
Patellar tendinitis is another running knee injury that’s fairly common. The patellar tendon, which is actually a ligament, attaches the kneecap to the upper shinbone. If this ligament is overworked, it can become inflamed and cause pain behind or at the bottom of your kneecap. This injury is especially likely if you do a lot of running down hills or steep inclines. In many cases, the pain will be minor, and it may only be felt while exercising. For other people, the pain can be severe and make normal daily tasks harder to do.
Excel Sports & Physical Therapy can help treat knee injuries from running
Runners with knee injuries are always welcome at Excel Sports & Physical Therapy. Our team has helped many people with running-related injuries, and our personalized therapy plans are the biggest reason we can successfully treat these injuries. For your plan, we’ll bring together multiple helpful therapy techniques designed to help you recover, including:
Are you ready to take the next step to get our help? Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.
