The knee is an intricate structure, subjected to considerable strain from running and other activities. Comprised of bones, ligaments, tendons and muscles – its main functions are supporting movement and adapting to shock.
If you are experiencing inner knee pain after running and home remedies aren’t helping, seeing a physical therapist could be in order. They can determine the source of the issue as well as provide treatments to get you back out there running!
Plica Irritation
Plicae are folds found within the synovial membrane that coat your knee joint, and when they become irritated they may cause pain on the inner side of your knee when straightening it or even cause it to click or lock when straightening your leg – an overuse injury from repetitive activities such as biking and running.
Plica irritations may also arise during activities that require repetitive bending and straightening of your knee, such as stair-climbing, rowing machine use or leg presses. Unfortunately, they’re difficult to diagnose since their symptoms closely resemble those caused by structural causes like patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS).
Treat this condition at home through an at-home exercise program which focuses on quadriceps strengthening and hamstring stretching exercises. Gradually increase the strength of your quadriceps muscles over time while avoiding activities which exacerbate plica irritation – running on hard surfaces may place additional stress on knees causing irritation to plia.
Meniscus Injuries
The meniscus is an important cushioning structure in your knee that works to distribute weight evenly and keep it from locking up. Injuries to this cushion may lead to pain, popping sensations and feelings like your knee is giving way. If these symptoms worsen over time, they could indicate more serious damage such as meniscus tears.
Meniscal tears may occur for various reasons, ranging from direct trauma to overuse or cartilage degeneration – often seen among older individuals – leading to degenerative or atraumatic tears that require medical intervention.
Symptoms of knee injuries can include knee pain that gets worse with flexing or bearing weight through the leg, weak or buckled feeling when straightened, rest, icing and physical therapy to regain strength in the knee; in more serious cases surgery may be required.
MCL Injuries
One of the primary sources of inner knee pain after running is a tear to the medial collateral ligament (MCL), located along the inside of the knee joint. MCL tears typically result from sudden twisting movements such as jumping, kicking or running; swelling, locking and difficulty straightening the knee are typically symptoms; these can sometimes feel like pops in the knee with bone bruises often present as well.
Each knee contains two c-shaped pads of shock-absorbing cartilage called menisci that serve as cushions between your thighbone and shinbone. Your MCL runs along the inner side of your knee connecting femur to tibia; should it tear, your knee may feel loose and unstable while also shifting when trying to bend or straighten it. A grade 3 MCL tear may lead to loose and unstable kneecap movement while trying to bend or straighten it.
Overuse
Running can be an excellent way to improve both cardiovascular health and muscular endurance, yet if you find that inner knee pain occurs after running it could be an indication that you are overexerting yourself too quickly and your body cannot keep up.
Increased mileage running can lead to overuse injuries like Iliotibial Band Syndrome (IT Band) or Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (Runner’s Knee). These are both common problems among runners and result from tightening and irritation of tendons between your hip and outer knee.
Attrition from running can lead to osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee, leading to symptoms including tenderness, swelling and difficulty moving it. An X-ray can help assess how severe your condition is as well as determine an effective treatment plan; switching to softer running surfaces and strengthening exercises focused on strengthening hip muscles could reduce pressure on your knees and help relieve symptoms of osteoarthritis.
