Introduction
Complaints of knee pain while running is a common reason for visits to our clinic. Most knee pain when running can be from a variety of causes and it is important to get a detailed history regarding the onset, duration, location and quality of the type of knee pain an athlete is suffering from. Most knee pain while running occurs to either the front of the knee around the knee cap (patella) or to the outside (lateral) part of the knee.
Causes of knee pain
Iliotibial Band Syndrome or IT Band Syndrome
Knee pain while running to the outside or lateral part of the knee is ususally a result of iliotibial band syndrome. The IT band is a thick piece of fascial tissue that starts at the top of the outside part of the hip and runs the length of the outside part of the thigh, finally connecting to just below the knee. The iliotibial band can become irritated by the lateral femoral condyle as the iliotibial band slides across it when a runner bends and straightens the knee during running.
Runner’s Knee – Patellofemoral Syndrome
One of the most common causes of pain to the front of the knee in runners, triathletes and other endurance athletes is a condition called “Runner’s Knee” or patellofemoral syndrome. Typical complaints are pain around the knee cap that is worse running up or down hills or going up and down stairs. Some runners and athletes have pain in the knee after they sit for a long period of time, either in a car or at the movie theater.
This condition is usually due to weakness in some of the thigh muscles, and as a result, an abnormal motion of the knee cap when the knee is flexed.