Knee pain can have various causes. For people who are active in sports, an overload or incorrect load is often behind the complaints. Knee pain often becomes noticeable during movement, for example when jogging or climbing stairs. In some cases, however, it can also occur at rest. Depending on whether the pain is on the inside, outside, front or back of the knee, an initial assumption can be made about the cause of the knee pain. However, if problems persist, a doctor should always be consulted – only he can rule out the possibility that a serious injury such as meniscus damage is behind the knee pain.
The knee – a complicated joint
The knee is the largest joint in our body. Because the individual bony parts of the joint do not exactly interlock, but are partially held together only by ligaments and muscles, the knee joint is particularly susceptible to injury. Pain in the knee can have different causes and therefore also take on different forms: Thus, the pain can be perceived as throbbing, stabbing, pulling, burning or pressing. Injuries to the knee often occur during sports in particular – this can damage the ligaments and tendons as well as the cartilage in the knee. The most common injuries include a cruciate ligament tear, an outer or inner ligament tear, meniscus damage and an injury to the kneecap. However, pain in the knee does not always have to indicate a serious injury; in some cases, only an overload of the knee is behind the complaints. Especially in older people, knee pain is also caused by signs of wear and tear such as osteoarthritis.
Knee pain during jogging
Athletes also have to fight with knee pain several times. Causes can be an incorrect running technique or a congenital leg malposition (knock knees or bow legs). Muscular imbalances can also lead to knee pain: If the thigh extensor muscles are severely shortened or underdeveloped compared to the posterior thigh muscles, this can result in knee pain. Likewise, imbalances between the outer and inner thigh muscles can lead to knee pain, as this pushes the kneecap to one side. Whether knee pain occurs during sports also depends largely on the stability of the hip and ankle joints. If, for example, the muscles on the inside of the foot are too weak, so that the foot bends inwards, this also has consequences for the knee joint: the twisting of the lower leg puts the wrong strain on the tendons and cartilage surfaces in the knee and the joint begins to hurt over time. In addition, the knee joint is also incorrectly loaded if the muscles in the hip joint are too weak, as the thigh then turns inwards too much. In addition, an incorrect running style can also cause knee pain: If you sit down too much while jogging and therefore bend your knee joints excessively, you exert increased pressure on the kneecap. If the knee pain occurs acutely, an inflammation of the cartilage below the kneecap can also be behind it: such an inflammation occurs when the kneecap – for example, due to too weak thigh muscles – rubs against the cartilage in the knee.
Knee pain from running: Runner’s knee
Runner’s knee – also known as ilio-tibial band syndrome – is caused by overuse of the knee joint during running. Runners with bow legs are particularly at risk. Irrespective of anatomical conditions, too fast a training build-up as well as too many fast training sessions can also promote the development of runner’s knee. The usually stabbing pain on the outside of the knee is triggered in runner’s knee by a tendon plate rubbing along the outer knee bump. The constant contact can cause irritation of the tendon tissue as well as bursitis. While the pain initially occurs only when running, over time it often becomes noticeable when walking. As a rule, runner’s knee can be treated well with anti-inflammatory ointments as well as a break from training.
Important: The right running shoe
If the knee pain occurs repeatedly during or after jogging, the first thing you should do is take a look at your own running shoes: If they are already heavily worn, it is time to treat yourself to a new pair of running shoes. Many sports stores nowadays offer a treadmill analysis, which you can use to find the right shoe for your feet.If the pain persists, you should see an orthopedist for a closer examination of your feet and an analysis of your running technique.
