Is Your Running Form Causing Your Knee Pain?

Running is beneficial for your body. It boosts your cardiovascular health. The impact of running can strengthen your bones. It offers mental health benefits, too. 

But all of these perks fall by the wayside if your running causes injury. If you’ve been dealing with knee pain, for example, it’s probably time to take a break to let your knee heal. Once it does, you don’t want to find yourself back in this situation. And that might have you wondering if your running form contributed to the knee issue.

It may have. And Karl Siebuhr, MD, and our team can help you find out. As an expert in orthopaedic trauma, including sports injuries, Dr. Siebuhr can evaluate your knee to see what’s causing your pain. Then, he develops a treatment plan to alleviate that, ideally helping you get back to running without any pain. 

For care for your knee, visit us here at Reconstructive Orthopaedics of Central Florida in Ocala, Florida. 

When form plays a role in runner’s knee 

Knee pain from running is so common that it has its own name: runner’s knee. Also called patellofemoral pain syndrome, this condition is marked by pain in or around your kneecap that’s usually worse when you’re running.

If that sounds familiar, your form could absolutely be to blame. Leaning back or hitting the ground with straight legs can overstress your knees. Leaning forward and running with bent knees can help limit your knee pain.

What you do before and after you get moving is just as important as your form during your run. Stretching and warming up beforehand can help prevent knee pain. So can mixing in some strengthening exercises, particularly focusing on the muscles in your legs and core. 

If you’ve been experiencing knee pain while you run, the best course of action is to take a break from running until the pain goes away. You can use that time to stretch and strengthen in other ways. If you’re still experiencing pain after a few weeks of rest, come see Dr. Siebuhr. 

Finding solutions to your knee pain

Here at our office, Dr. Siebuhr evaluates your knee to figure out what’s causing your pain. He talks with you about your symptoms and examines your knee. Dr. Siebuhr might also order diagnostic imaging to get a clearer idea of what’s happening in your knee.  

Then, he tailors treatment to you. Sometimes, that’s as simple as wearing a brace to help your knee heal or getting better running shoes. You might also benefit from physical therapy, which can help you improve your running form. 

In some cases, your knee might need additional support to heal. Dr. Siebuhr offers options ranging from platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to surgery, so he can help you identify the right treatment plan for your unique knee needs. 

If your knee doesn’t get better with a few weeks of rest, call our office or request an appointment online.