One of the common conditions we help with is runner's knee that nagging pain around the kneecap that flares with every run, squat, and staircase.
Runner’s knee — known clinically as patellofemoral pain syndrome — is pain around or behind the kneecap caused by the kneecap not gliding smoothly in its groove. And despite the name, you don’t have to be a runner to get it; we see it in cyclists, hikers, gym-goers, and people whose jobs keep them on their feet.
The usual suspects: tight quadriceps and IT bands that pull the kneecap off its track, weak hip and glute muscles that let the knee drift inward with every stride, training increases that came on too fast, worn footwear, and lots of downhill running or stair work. Each imperfect repetition is small — but running stacks up thousands of them, and the tissue around the kneecap eventually protests.
What are the symptoms of Runner's Knee?
The defining symptom is a dull, aching pain around or behind the kneecap. It typically comes on during or after running, worsens with downhill stretches and stairs (especially going down), and flares after long periods of sitting with bent knees — the classic “moviegoer’s sign” of needing to straighten your leg in the theater.
Many runners also notice grinding, clicking, or a rubbing sensation under the kneecap, mild swelling after activity, or a feeling that the knee is “tired” and unreliable near the end of a run.
The frustrating pattern is how it progresses: first it only hurts after long runs, then during runs, then during daily life. Runners respond by cutting mileage, then stopping altogether — losing fitness and the routine they love. The good news is that runner’s knee responds very well to treatment that addresses the soft-tissue tension and imbalances behind it.
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What Is Our Approach To Fixing / Treating Runner's Knee?
The defining symptom is a dull, aching pain around or behind the kneecap. It typically comes on during or after running, worsens with downhill stretches and stairs (especially going down), and flares after long periods of sitting with bent knees — the classic “moviegoer’s sign” of needing to straighten your leg in the theater.
Many runners also notice grinding, clicking, or a rubbing sensation under the kneecap, mild swelling after activity, or a feeling that the knee is “tired” and unreliable near the end of a run.
The frustrating pattern is how it progresses: first it only hurts after long runs, then during runs, then during daily life. Runners respond by cutting mileage, then stopping altogether — losing fitness and the routine they love. The good news is that runner’s knee responds very well to treatment that addresses the soft-tissue tension and imbalances behind it.
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