What is runner knee?

Question

and how can I prevent it?

Answer 1

its a p***y excuse to not run

Answer 2

i think its like tennis elbow, you can get a knee support that will just take the pressure off when you go running.

Answer 3

Its a painfull knee and is often associated with running. I could write it all down here, but you can do an internet search to get the signs and symptoms.

The causes are often badly fitting trainers which sounds strange. As your foot hits the ground it twists - every runner does that - and depending on how much twist there is, the tendons and leg muscles work different amounts. This can affect your knee area where the muscles are attached to. So a twisting foot can casue a twisting knee and knee injuries including runner knee (illotibial band syndrome).

How to stop it? Welll depending on how for you run each week - lesser distance might be OK. Rest between runs, a day off at least a week. Get your trainers fitted at a specialist running store and take your old trainers along so they can analyse how you run and get you the right trainers with the right support - depending how your foot falls, and change them at least annually. If you start getting knee pains then have a couple of days of to recover and then slowly build up the miles again

Answer 4

Some other effective treatments are the following:

- strength training in your gluts.  runners tend to have over developed quads and stronger gluts/hamtrings will help creat more balance for your knee to track smoothly.  A sample of exercises would be lungs, squats, leg press - single leg at a time, etc.  However, make sure whatever exercise you are doing doesn't irritate your knee more.

- friction on your knee - I would go see a PT specialist to have this done for the first few times, and then you maybe able to do it yourself.  Basically, the friction on your knee will help speed recovery/healing and can help reduce the tension

- stretch, stretch, and stretch some more.  Your lower back, hip flexors, thighs, etc.  Tightness in all of these areas can cause the tracking in your knee to be pulled off resulting in irritation.

ice - ice your knees after workouts to reduce swelling, irritation.

Answer 5

Pain around and sometimes behind the kneecap. One of the most common injuries among runners, runner's knee most often strikes as runners approach forty miles per week for the first time. Even after taking a few days off, the pain seems to come right back, sometimes even intensifying, after the first few miles of the next run. The pain often feels worst when running downhill or walking down stairs, and the knee is often stiff and sore after sitting down for long periods. You might hear a crunching or clicking sound when you bend or extend your knee.

The sure-fire test for runner's knee: sit down and put your leg out on a chair so that it's stretched out straight. Have a friend squeeze your leg just above the knee while pushing on the kneecap. She should push from the outside of the leg toward the center. At the same time, tighten your thigh muscle. If this is painful, you're looking at runner's knee.

Likely causes:

It's actually not your knee's fault at all. Blame your feet and thighs; for one reason or another they aren't doing their jobs properly. Your knee moves up and down in a narrow little groove in your thigh bone. It's a nifty design: when your legs and feet are working efficiently, your knee moves smoothly and comfortably with every step. But trouble appears when your kneecap moves out of its track, or rubs up against its sides. That trouble becomes pain when you factor in nearly 1000 steps per cartilage-grinding mile. Over time the cushioning cartilage around the knee becomes worn. That smarts. And that's runner's knee.