Duration of a runner’s knee
The amount of time it takes for a runner’s knee to fully recover and heal the damaged structures can vary greatly. This depends mainly on the extent of the damage and inflammation of the affected structures as well as the therapy and the behavior after the onset of the symptoms. The most important thing is that the stress that led to the occurrence of the specific complaints is initially prevented and thus the affected inflamed structures are spared.Further strain on the fascia can lead to a chronic development of the injury which can last for months or even years.
With an adequate therapy of the runner’s knee and consequent protection, the injury should heal after 6-8 weeks. A slow build-up of the scope of sports activities is only recommended towards the end of the healing phase. Should pain occur during light sports activities, a wait-and-see approach and further protection is recommended.
Summary
A runner’s knee is a pain syndrome that is particularly noticeable when walking or running. It is caused by constrictions between bones on the outside of the lower leg and the muscle that is guided over it. Every movement of the leg (flexion, squatting) causes increased friction between the muscle (iliotibial tract) and the bony process.
This friction can increasingly lead to pain during the movements. One speaks then of the so-called runner’s knee. In addition to the general medical examination, the physician will ask the patient about risk factors that can lead to a runner’s knee, and especially about the pain character indicated for a runner’s knee.
The pain is mainly pulling, burning, biting pain, which can form on the outside of the lower leg but can also extend upwards to the hip. The first symptoms of a runner’s knee can be pain when going downhill. In advanced stages, a corresponding pain can then also be triggered when walking uphill or when running on a straight plane.
In some cases there are also functional restrictions in movements. In addition to damage to the outer ligaments or meniscus, bursitis, i.e. inflammation of the bursa, must also be excluded. Here, the physician performs typical movement maneuvers on the lying patient, which would cause discomfort in the differential diagnostic causes.
To rule out arthrosis, an X-ray of the knee can be taken, and to rule out ligament or meniscus damage, a magnetic resonance examination can also be performed. After the diagnosis of a runner’s knee, the sport that led to the triggering must be reduced or completely stopped. Instead, alternative sports such as swimming or fitness training can be performed.
At the moment of acute pain, the knee can be cooled with ointments or ice packs. Furthermore, anti-inflammatory ointments (e.g. Diclofenac) can be used. In the long term, an attempt can be made to widen the narrow gap between bone and muscle.
This should be achieved with regular stretching exercises (several times a day). A surgical intervention is almost never indicated. The form of treatment consists of physical therapy and physiotherapy on the one hand and reduction of risk factors (choice of sport) on the other.
