Runner's Knee
Patellofemoral pain syndrome — front-of-knee pain triggered by running and repetitive loading.
Runner's knee — clinically known as patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) — is pain around or behind the kneecap caused by repetitive loading and abnormal patellar tracking in the trochlear groove. It is the most common running-related injury, accounting for 16–25% of all running injuries (Taunton et al., BJSM). The pain is not the result of structural damage to the kneecap but of an overload of the patellofemoral joint relative to its current capacity.
Patients typically describe a dull ache around or under the kneecap that develops during or shortly after running, climbing stairs, squatting, or prolonged sitting with a bent knee. Symptoms often build gradually over weeks rather than appearing suddenly, may be associated with mild crepitus, and frequently affect both knees to varying degrees.
PFPS is most common in recreational runners, particularly women between 15 and 40, military recruits, and athletes who suddenly increase mileage, add hills, or change footwear. Adolescent athletes during growth spurts and athletes with limited hip and ankle mobility are also at elevated risk.
A combined, root-cause approach.
A 2018 consensus statement and multiple randomized trials demonstrate that hip-focused strengthening combined with quadriceps strengthening and manual therapy significantly outperforms knee-only treatment or rest for PFPS. We address the contributing soft-tissue restrictions in the quads, IT band, TFL, and calves with ART and dry needling, mobilize the patellofemoral joint, rebuild glute and hip strength to control femoral rotation, and use gait and load-management coaching so you can keep running through recovery.
- ART for quads, IT band, and TFL
- Dry needling
- Glute and hip rehab
- Running gait assessment
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