Knee Pain in Runners: How to Keep Doing What You Love

Examining Knee Pain

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With beautiful running routes across Berkshire, Wiltshire and Oxfordshire on our doorstep, it is no surprise that runners make up a good share of our clinic diary. And the most common thing that brings them in? The knee.

Why knees complain

Runner's knee, or patellofemoral pain, typically shows up as an ache around or behind the kneecap, worse on hills, stairs or after sitting. Iliotibial band syndrome tends to bite on the outside of the knee, often at a predictable distance into a run. Then there are tendon issues, meniscal irritation and plain old overload.

Here is the important part: in most running-related knee pain, the knee is the victim, not the villain. Weak or lazy hip muscles, stiff ankles, a sudden jump in mileage, worn-out shoes or a big change in training surface all shift extra load onto the knee. It simply happens to be the joint that shouts loudest.

How we help runners

• A full assessment of your hips, knees, ankles and running history, not just the sore spot

• Hands-on treatment to settle irritated tissue and restore movement

• A strength programme targeting the hips, glutes and calves that protect your knees

• Training load advice so you can keep running while you recover wherever possible

• Guidance on footwear and gradual returns after a break

Keep running, run smarter

Complete rest is rarely the answer for runners. In most cases we would rather adjust your load than stop you altogether, because fitness, routine and morale all matter to recovery. The goal is a knee that copes with the running you want to do, not a life spent avoiding hills.

Whether you are training for a first 5k or a spring marathon, a niggle that has lasted more than two weeks is your cue to get it looked at. Small problems are quicker to fix than stubborn ones.

Ready to run without the niggle? Book in at Laura Fishlock Osteopathy and let us keep you on the road, trail or track.