After months of dealing with British weather, chained to your desk in the new WFH life that is now the norm, we are finally re-downloading Strava, lacing up our running shoes, and beginning to get some miles in again. Even seasoned runners can get knee pain while running, but what is it that causes this knee pain?

Pain in the front of the knee is often called patellofemoral pain by healthcare and fitness professionals alike. It can be a rather gradual onset of pain, and others can get the pain in a very short amount of time. Pain tends to be at it’s worst when going down stairs, squatting, sitting for long periods of time, or any other activity where the knee goes ‘over the toes’. But why do we get this pain?

Patellofemoral pain often occurs when the knee has been exposed to a level of work that it has not been used to. This can be as innocuous as a busy weekend of lifting boxes up and downstairs while moving house, or a runner who has suddenly decided to run some extra miles than they usually do.

When an injury stops you doing the things you have to do like work, and the things you love to do like play with your children, it is important to get a plan of recovery in place. this would involve getting your knee assessed and finding out why your body is not handling the things you need to do. The cause may be far away from the knee, such as the hip or torso, or may be a result of an other injury, or a weakness in your opposite leg.

The human body is an amazing kinetic chain, where every body part plays an important role in getting us moving and keeping us healthy. If you are currently experiencing runners knee and you would like a a plan to get back to running pain-free, book an assessment with one of our physios.