Have you experienced dull, mild or severe aches around the region of kneecap or patella? You might initially brush this off as a temporary strain on your knees, but eventually, this ache holds the potential to hamper movements in your daily life.
Have you wondered what this could be and why it’s happening?
You could possibly be suffering from Runner’s Knee.
You needn’t be a Usain Bolt to have this disease. Even though running is the major cause for this condition, but that does not mean that this can occur only to athletes – it could happen to you too.
So here’s what you need to know about Runner’s knee
What Is Runner’s Knee?
It is a broad term which is used to refer to any kind of pain that occurs in and around the region of the kneecap or Patella. Such medical conditions include Anterior knee pain syndrome, Patellofemoral malalignment, Chondromalacia patella, Iliotibial band syndrome.
What Are Its Symptoms?
The hallmark of runner’s knee is the pain in the kneecap or patella particularly in the meeting point of thigh bone and knees. Other symptoms include swelling, popping, and crackling sound inside the knee.
What Are The Causes?
The pain inside your knees is caused by the irritation of the soft tissue or the lining of the knee, strained tendons, or worn or torn cartilages. Some of the activities that you do regularly can also cause this like,
- Overuse of knee
- A direct hit to the knee
- Fracture
- Problems with your feet
- Weakened or unbalanced thigh muscles
- Arthritis
- Complete or partial dislocation of a kneecap
How Is It Diagnosed?
Your doctor will obtain a complete history by conducting thorough physical examinations such as Blood test, MRI scan, X-ray, and CT scan.
How Can It Be Treated?
It is good for you to know that this condition can be treated without any surgery. The treatment that your doctor would recommend you is RICE:
- Rest: It is to avoid overstressing on the knee. So you have to avoid running, squatting, lunging for long periods.
- Ice: To ease the pain and swelling ice packs are applied for 20-30 minutes every 3-4 hours.
- Compression: You can use an elastic bandage, patellar straps, and sleeves to support your knees, but you should not tie it too tightly.
- Elevation: You can place a pillow under your knee while sitting or lying to avoid swelling.
If the pain becomes unbearable you can take certain non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen but only under the doctor’s prescription.
Once the swelling subsides your doctor will suggest you some exercise and physical therapy to restore and motion. They may also recommend you braces and orthotics as an extra support and to relieve pain.
The option of surgery is recommended if your cartilage is damaged or if your kneecap needs realignment.
How Can You Prevent Runner’s knee?
People who are overweight are prone to develop this condition so make sure that you stay in shape by exercising and having a proper diet. Before you do any activity that stresses your knee make sure that you stretch yourself.
Do not overdo exercises, you should gradually increase the intensity of the workouts. Make sure that when you go running or walking your posture is correct and you are wearing comfortable shoes. Avoid running or walking on concrete.
If your knee pain becomes acute you should visit your doctor as soon as possible. As an orthopedic surgeon will be able to carry on a replacement surgery if necessary and if the pain is mild the doctor will be able to tailor the treatment for the underlying cause. But it is much more important that you consult a skilled surgeon at Sri Sri Holistic Hospital to mend your knees.
About The Doctor:
Dr. Venkat Ram Prasad Vallamshetla – Orthopedic Surgeon
Dr. Venkat Ram Prasad Vallamshetla is one of the Best Orthopedic Surgeon in Hyderabad. He has done his MBBS, MS Ortho (OSM), MRCS (Edin) and FRCS (Trauma & Orth) from Edinburgh. He has additionally undergone training and has worked in Birmingham for over 12 years with a specialization in Joint Replacement, arthroscopic surgery, sports injuries.
About The Hospital:
Sri Sri Holistic Hospital is a leading 100 bedded multi-specialty hospital in Nizampet, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. Sri Sri Holistic Hospital provides high standards of Healthcare with a combination of Advanced Technology and state of art clinical expertise. With more than 52 Internationally experienced doctors and 400 staff, we served at least 50,000 patients so far.
