Ruminating on Runner’s Knee—Remedies and Restoration
There are few things in life more liberating than running freely under a wide open sky.
Gentle breezes kiss your skin as you move briskly in the direction of your goals—undeterred by frantic pedestrians and slow-moving traffic on the Grand Concourse, or family picnics with boisterous young girls and boys playing Tag in Central Park.
Once your sneakers are on, and you pick your playlist, you set off on a journey to achieve the unachievable, with music in your ears playing the soundtrack to your life.
Welcome to the exciting life of a city runner: someone who makes frequent detours to overcome literal and figurative roadblocks, trampling on fears the farther he goes.
Running Away From Pain
If you’re a habitual jogger who likes to wake up at the crack of dawn, put on your running shoes and sprint your way to an active life, you probably have a fairly healthy lifestyle.
What you may not realize, however, is that regular runners have a greater tendency of developing patellofemoral pain syndrome—also known as runner’s knee.
According to the British Journal of Sports Medicine, this is a running injury that afflicts mostly young recreational runners—found in twice as many women as men who run routinely.
The condition is characterized by an acute pain that results from irritated cartilage under the kneecap. The reasons underlying runner’s knee vary considerably among those afflicted—with biomechanical issues, overstretching, weak supporting muscles and overused shoes being some of the leading triggers.
As the name suggests, runner’s knee is found commonly among city runners, who may experience swelling or pain due to displaced patella. This could happen for a number of reasons, such as tight hamstrings or weak quadriceps—with a sudden onset of pain when descending a sloping terrain, or running on an uneven surface.
Getting Back on Your Feet
While it is advisable to avoid running for a while after being diagnosed with runner’s knee, it is by no means a long-term solution to your problem.
You’re likely to give in to a few days of rest, but as a dedicated runner, you’ll probably do whatever it takes to put on your tracksuit, get set and go!
As a professional sports massage therapist, I can tell you with absolute certainty that runner’s knee is curable with the right diagnosis and treatment.
My 15+ years of experience in medical massage therapy has assisted countless triathletes across the great state of New York.
Deep tissue treatment, trigger point therapy, active release, and more—there’s a therapeutic answer to every sports injury. And I’m committed to finding out what works for you to help you get back on your feet!
