Three causes of inner knee pain when running

You probably don’t think about how much pressure running puts on your knees. However, that’s likely to change if you begin feeling inner knee pain when running. 

Knee pain is a common issue for runners and for people generally. One study found that about 25% of adults experience knee pain annually, and this type of pain is responsible for about 4 million doctor’s visits every year. Meeting with a physical therapist can help you learn the specific cause of your inner knee pain when running. In addition, these specialists offer effective treatment for many issues that trigger knee pain in runners. 

These three problems could be behind your knee pain when running

1. Medial meniscus tear — The meniscus consists of two C-shaped pieces of cartilage in the knee. The piece on the inner side of the knee joint is called the medial meniscus. Typically, this type of injury develops when the knee twists suddenly when your foot hits the ground. Such incidents can easily occur when runners are moving over uneven surfaces. 

2. Pes anserine bursitis — This condition is also called knee tendon bursitis. It occurs when the bursa between the shinbone and the three hamstring tendons on the inside of the knee becomes inflamed. Pes anserine bursitis is especially common in runners who: 

• Neglect their stretching.
• Do too much hill running. 
• Suddenly increase their mileage. 
• Have tight hamstrings.

3. Kneecap misalignment — The kneecap provides an anchor point for ligaments and tendons that run between your thighbone and shinbone. Kneecap misalignment occurs when this structure is pulled out of its normal groove in the knee. This issue can lead to pain and swelling in the front of your knee. Often, these symptoms increase when you run. 

How can physical therapy help your inner knee pain when running?

There are many techniques that physical therapists can use to address knee pain. Some of these techniques include: 

• Therapeutic exercises that focus on strengthening and stretching muscles that support the knee. 

• Manual therapy intended to improve knee range of motion. 

• Sport-specific therapy designed to help runners learn how to warm up and cool down properly. 

Back in Motion offers effective treatment for inner knee pain when running

Tired of feeling inner knee pain every time you go running? Our team at Back in Motion Physical Therapy offers treatment options that can help address your running-related knee pain. First, we can do a free screening on your knee to pinpoint the source of your pain.

Then, our physical therapists will construct an individualized therapy plan for you that’s designed to reduce your pain and prevent future pain. You can even sign up for a virtual therapy or at-home care session with us and treat your pain from home. 

Contact us today for more information about how we can treat your knee pain or to schedule your initial appointment.