| Did you know that forty-two percent of all overuse | | | | turn in or out excessively can pull the patella |
| injuries affect the knee joint, and patellofemoral pain | | | | sideways. There could also be muscular issues |
| syndrome (PFPS), also known as "runner's knee", is | | | | contributing to your PFPS. Tight hamstrings and calf |
| the most common overuse injury among runners. | | | | muscles, in particular, can put excessive pressures on |
| PFPS can effect both knees, though more commonly | | | | the knee. Weak quadriceps muscles can also cause |
| it is more painful in one knee. According to the British | | | | the patella to track out of alignment, creating painful |
| Journal of Sports Medicine PFPS hinders more young | | | | friction and rubbing. |
| and active people, and twice as many women as | | | | What can I do to help with PFPS? |
| men. This is most likely because women tend to | | | | A good physical therapist can perform a thorough |
| have wider hips, resulting in a greater angling of the | | | | assessment and determine what factors could be |
| thighbone to the knee, which puts the knee cap | | | | contributing to your knee pain. They would also |
| under more stress. The symptoms of PFPS are | | | | evaluate your running stride while running on a |
| caused by the irregular tracking of the patella | | | | treadmill to determine if there are any problems with |
| (kneecap) in the femoral groove. | | | | your running technique and gait which may be the |
| What are the common symptoms of PFPS? | | | | culprit of your pain. Treatment will likely consist of |
| Symptoms will be different case by case but often | | | | exercises to focus on correcting existing muscle |
| include tenderness behind or around the patella. It is | | | | imbalances and improving strength in weak muscles. |
| possible to feel pain toward the back of the knee, a | | | | You will also perform a flexibility program for the |
| sense of cracking or that the knee is instable and | | | | hamstrings, calves and hip flexors, and education on |
| giving out. Running or walking on steps, hills or uneven | | | | proper footwear and referral for orthotics to correct |
| surfaces can exacerbate PFPS. | | | | your foot positioning, if necessary. The rule is if your |
| What are possible causes of PFPS? | | | | feet have good form, your knees will follow. |
| Determining a single cause of your knee pain can be | | | | Some smart ways to prevent PFPS is to try running |
| quite difficult. A good approach to eliminating your | | | | on softer surfaces like grass or trails. Also, don't do |
| pain is having your knee assessed by a physical | | | | too much. Increasing your weekly mileage more than |
| therapist. Anterior knee pain could be a biomechanical | | | | ten percent each week is too much. And lastly, |
| problem. Biomechanical issues that may be causing | | | | running on hills can be good for your heart but hard |
| your pain include: excessive internal rotation of your | | | | on your knees; make sure to introduce a hill routine |
| hip, your knee cap may sit too high or too low in its | | | | slowly! For the best advice contact a good physical |
| groove, worn cartilage in the knee joint which | | | | therapist who can analyze your running gait and |
| reduces shock absorption, high arches of the feet | | | | provide strengthening exercises to prevent future |
| providing less cushioning and flat feet, or knees that | | | | pain in your knees. |