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Howard J. Luks, MD

Howard J. Luks, MD

Orthopedic Surgeon Sports Medicine Specialist

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Knee

The Runners Knee .. 4 Tips to Keep You On The Road

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Howard J. Luks, MD Updated Sep 17, 2021 Read time: 3 mins

Runners KNee

The runners knee … a runner’s biggest fear.  A runners knee is typically characterized by pain in the front of the knee.  Determining the cause of your runners knee is critical to determining the appropriate treatment plan.  You may be surprised at the areas of your body which can contribute to your pain.

I love working with runners.  We are a very driven and dedicated breed.  Running completes us.  Unfortunately,  few runners are capable of keeping up a hard training schedule without pain.   Most of the runners I meet on the trails or see in my office suffer from one runner’s malady or another.  Most runners can carry on with minimal discomfort, but eventually something will sideline us for a while.

Could your runners knee injury have been prevented?

Can you be proactive in minimizing the risk of developing a significant running knee injury?

Taking a very active role in wanting to be able to run for a few more decades will go a long way in making that a reality.

1. Proper Running Shoe Tips

  • Get over how the shoe looks … it’s the least relevant factor in choosing the proper shoe
  • Shop for shoes at the end of a day.  Our feet swell .. so a shoe bought in the early AM will likely be too small.
  • Our feet swell when we run.  Are your toenails black? Blistered?  Your shoes are probably too small and will not accommodate the swelling.
  • Don’t ask for a certain size … measure it, try it on, lace it up and run.  You should feel some give in the shoe.  Women in particular need to heed this warning.  They tend to wear snug shoes… which could lead to purchasing a running shoe that is too small.

 2. Runners Knee and our HIPS – Cause or Effect

  • Runners knee or Patello Femoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) is that annoying pain in the front of your knee.
  • The cause of PFPS remains largely unknown. But the hip/core are felt to be significant contributing factors.  See diagram below.
  • Runners with PFPS have weak hip musculature. This might cause stress on the patella and therefore pain in the front of your knee. The diagram below shows how poor mechanics and diminished hip/core strength can lead to PFPS or a runners knee.
  • But we do not know if the weak hips caused PFPS or vice versa
  • Hip and core strengthening is a critical aspect of your training.

Runners Knee

3. Stretching … It’s good for you? right?

  • Static stretching — (legs up and bend forward and hold it) not only has it been shown not to prevent an injury; static stretching has been shown to cause weakness and loss of quickness in the muscles you just stretched.  Static stretching before running should be avoided.  
  • Dynamic warm ups are important… get the blood moving to the muscles you are about to use.

 

Do you have questions regarding an Orthopedic injury or longevity? 

Do you want to talk to an expert who can listen to you for 45-60 minutes and explain the options in detail? 

Dr. Howard Luks offers remote guidance sessions to review your X-ray or MRI images and explain your options. 

Dr. Luks has also received hundreds of requests for educational sessions on the topics discussed in his book, Longevity Simplified.

Schedule Remote Session

4. Training Injuries

  • You have a race in two weeks but you’ve been sidelined for a month.  Please do not enter the race .
  • Our body deconditions very rapidly, especially in a novice.
  • We loose bone mass — or our bones become less dense when we stop exercising.  When you exercise your bones become more dense to handle the stress.  When you stop exercising the body takes the calcium and bone away :(
  • It takes months to recondition your body and restore your lost bone mass.  The longer the period of rest, the longer it will take to return back to your usual schedule.
  • Trying to ramp up a training schedule too rapidly will lead to one of many stress injuries which will simply put you on the sidelines longer.

Categories: Knee, Running Tags: anterior knee pain, PFPS, Runners Knee

Disclaimer:  this information is for your education and should not be considered medical advice regarding diagnosis or treatment recommendations. Some links on this page may be affiliate links. Read the full disclaimer.
Dr. Howard J. Luks

Howard J. Luks, MD is a leading orthopedic surgeon & sports medicine specialist. An expert in shoulder, knee, and other sports injuries, and author of Longevity... Simplified.

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Further Reading:

knee swelling
Pain In The Front Of The Knee: 6 Common Causes
Can I run with a meniscus tear in my knee
Can I make a meniscus tear worse if I run on it?
can't straighten knee
Patellofemoral or Anterior Knee Pain in Adolescents
meniscus transplant for knee pain
Common Running Injuries and How To Avoid Them

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Justin Knox

    Jul 12, 2016 at 8:53 am

    Thank you for the help. I have had some orthopedic issues because of running. I am not sure if I have invested in the proper shoes, as you warned. Should I get professional help to determine what quality running shoes I need?

  2. Jordan

    May 7, 2015 at 10:43 am

    Great overview here! While exercising is definitely good for you, it needs to be done carefully so you don’t injure the parts you’re working. These are some good ideas on how to do just that!

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Dr. Howard J. Luks

Howard J. Luks, MD is a leading orthopedic surgeon & sports medicine specialist. An expert in shoulder, knee, and other sports injuries, and author of Longevity... Simplified.

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