If you’ve ever had Runners Knee, you know how painful it is and how hard it is to treat. “Runner’s knee is a generalized condition that’s just pain around the knee,” explains Gary Olson, MD, chiropractor from the LI Spine & Sports Injury Center. “It can be on the sides of the knee, below the knee, or behind the patella.” The patella is the medical term for a knee cap. 

Runners knee can be found in different places and a in range of different injuries. “Typically you can have something called chrondomalascia patella, which is a wearing away of the bone on the inside of your knee from abnormal wear and tear,” he explains. “Or your quad muscle can be involved and you can have the iliotibial band [IT band] really tight and pulling on the patella, and may cause generalized patella pain.” Therefore, you have knee pain.

Runners Knee Pain Prevention is the Key:

  • Stretching: runners should stretch properly to warm up before you start.
  • Stretch AFTER your run as well.
  • Stretch your quads, hamstrings and calves.
  • Take some breaks from running

If it happens to you: 

  • Ice the painful area
  • Rest, until it’s fully healed (a couple of weeks)

Reference: https://www.wellandgood.com/good-sweat/runners-knee/