What is runner’s knee?

Knee Pain

Man in black shorts bending down and holding his knee. Runner’s knee is a common overuse injury among runners and other people who put a lot of pressure on their knees when biking, jumping, skiing or dancing.

The condition causes the kneecap (patella) to move out of place. While it is in the misaligned position, it irritates the femoral groove and wears away the cartilage beneath the patella, causing knee pain.

Runner’s knee can be caused by:

Falling on your knee and moving the patella out of the groove
Overuse and repetitive bending and flexing the knee
A kneecap that is out of alignment
Wearing down the cartilage under the kneecap
Tight muscles that put extra stress on the kneecap
Flat feet or over-pronation

Do you have the symptoms of runner’s knee?

You may feel pain and tenderness or pain behind or on the sides of your kneecap. Often the pain is located where the thighbone and kneecap meet. You may feel pain when you walk, kneel, squat, run, walk down stairs or sit with your knee bent for a long time. You also may notice a popping or a snapping sensation. Left untreated, runner’s knee can damage cartilage.

If you are experiencing pain near your knee cap that has lasted for a few weeks or limits movement, contact the Bone & Joint Center and request an appointment or call 800.445.6442.