What is the runner’s knee?

Runner’s knee, or patellofemoral syndrome, is an injury that can cause a dull, achy pain at the front of the knee and around the kneecap.

It’s common for runners, cyclists, and for those who participate in sports involving jumping.

One study reveals that almost 23% of people develop this knee condition every year.

Physical therapy is a treatment option that can be very effective for runner’s knee. In fact, a therapy specialist can bring multiple therapy techniques to bear on this condition. 

Physical therapy techniques that can treat runner’s knee

Determining which physical therapy methods can best help your runner’s knee starts with a comprehensive evaluation.

This will involve your physical therapist checking the function of your knee. They may also ask you questions about your level of pain and when the pain occurs. Also, they could ask you about your daily routine and medical history. 

Some of the techniques they could choose to include in your plan are: 

Therapeutic exercises

Your physical therapists can show you many therapeutic exercises that can help treat PPS.

Often, these exercises will focus on strengthening the hip and knee muscles. One study reports that patients with PPS who did hip exercises had a 43% decrease in their pain scores after four weeks. 

Active Release Techniques^®(ART)

This therapy method is intended to stretch and mobilize the soft tissue that supports the knee. Active release movements are performed by your physical therapist’s hands.

Medical researchers in one study revealed that ART helped improve sit-and-reach scores by almost 13 centimeters on average.

This increase indicates a significant improvement in hamstring flexibility. In turn, this greater flexibility can help realign the knee joint

Schedule Your Appointment with Health Plus Physical Therapy