Running can be hard on the knees. From beginners taking part in couch-to-5K programs to experienced marathoners, running can put undue strain on knees. Any pain behind one’s knee when straightening and bending one leg could mean anything from minor discomfort to serious damage.
Sharp pain behind the knee may indicate damage to its cartilage or ligaments. It could also indicate more serious health concerns such as blood clots.
Causes
Back of knee pain often stems from damage to tissues that hold it together – ligaments connect bones together, while tendons connect muscle to bone. Overuse of these structures may irritate and swell them up, causing discomfort.
Running is a high-impact exercise that places additional strain on your knees and hips, leading to patellofemoral pain syndrome, an overuse injury affecting the underside of your kneecap. This usually happens when increasing time spent running or engaging in high-stress exercises such as jumping.
Overuse can also result in Baker’s Cysts, an accumulation of fluid in a shallow depression at the back of your knee caused by overtraining, arthritis or direct injury to your joint. Baker’s Cysts may be an early indicator of Gout (buildup of uric acid crystals in joints). Both conditions cause intense pain at the back of both legs.
Symptoms
Runner’s knee, also known as patellofemoral pain syndrome, is pain felt across the front of the knee that may be brought on by changes to your exercise regimen, weak quadriceps muscles or both. Running or other activities utilizing your quads (such as squatting and jumping ) may feel like your kneecap is being put under undue strain when this pain becomes present – creating what feels like pressure against it when exercising it is associated with patellar instability and requires changes to either exercise routines or both components may bring symptoms.
If you experience knee pain while running, it is important to track its frequency, severity and whether or not it worsens over time. This information will enable your physician to correctly diagnose what’s going on with your knee.
Swelling behind the knee can be a telltale sign of trouble, such as Baker’s cyst. This occurs when excess fluid leaks into the back of the joint. Your knee may swell up, become red and warm to touch and become tender to touch – all telling signs it could be time for medical intervention.
Diagnosis
Pain in a runner’s knee may come and go, but persistent discomfort indicates something is amiss with how your kneecap, or patella, fits and moves relative to your femur or leg bone.
Pain behind your knee can be caused by ligament sprains, muscle/tendon strains or bone fractures; sudden-onset knee pain often correlates to ligament injuries – particularly injuries to the medial collateral ligament (MCL).
Back of knee pain often develops slowly over time due to overuse injuries caused by repetitive use. These include inflammation such as bursitis or arthritis, as well as softening of patella cartilage known as chondromalacia patella. Swelling behind your knee could be indicative of Baker’s cyst, in which excess fluid from your joint seeps out behind it causing it to gather behind. Your physician can diagnose this by observing how smoothly the patella glides across your femur and looking out for any visible cyst.
Treatment
No matter your experience or skill level, aches and pains associated with running are likely. But if the discomfort behind your kneecap persists for any length of time, this could be indicative of patellofemoral syndrome – more commonly referred to as runner’s knee.
Your doctor can use various tests, such as an X-ray to detect bone fractures and alignment issues; CT or ultrasound scans or ultrasonography that provide more detailed images of soft tissues; as well as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans which allow him or her to evaluate the back of your knee, helping with diagnosis and treatment for conditions like Baker’s cyst.
First step to treating an injured knee: rest. A day or two of rest can reduce inflammation and enable your injury to heal faster, while applying ice can also be helpful after exercise or sitting for long periods of time. A physical therapist can teach strengthening exercises for quadriceps such as straight leg raises to enhance knee functionality and help avoid future issues.
