Hitting the Wall? Non-Surgical Solutions for Runner’s Knee

by | Jun 28, 2024

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Hitting the pavement for a run is a fantastic way to stay active and improve your overall health. But sometimes, that pounding on the pavement can lead to a common culprit for runners: knee pain, often referred to as runner’s knee.

We understand the frustration of runner’s knee interrupting your training. The good news? There are several effective non-surgical treatments available to help you get back on track and pain-free.

Understanding Runner’s Knee

Runner’s knee, or patellofemoral pain syndrome, refers to pain around the kneecap caused by repetitive stress.

Common symptoms include:

  • Aching pain around or behind the kneecap, especially during or after running.
  • Stiffness in the knee, particularly noticeable after periods of inactivity.
  • Difficulty bending or straightening the knee fully.

Non-Surgical Solutions for Relief

Fortunately, there are several non-surgical options to address runner’s knee and get you back to enjoying your runs:

  • Physical Therapy: A cornerstone of runner’s knee treatment, physical therapy focuses on strengthening the muscles around your knee joint, improving flexibility, and correcting any faulty running mechanics that might be contributing to the pain.
  • Prolotherapy: This injection therapy involves injecting a solution to stimulate the growth of new, stronger connective tissue around the knee joint, improving stability and reducing pain.
  • Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy: This innovative treatment utilizes your own blood platelets, rich in growth factors, to accelerate healing and promote tissue health in the knee joint.
  • Bone Marrow Concentrate Stem Cell Therapy: Stem cell injections offer a promising option for runner’s knee. Stem cells have the potential to differentiate into different types of cells, potentially aiding in repair and promoting tissue healing.

The Advantage

Chicago Arthritis Regenerative Medicine makes use of a custom approach when treating runner’s knee. Our team of regenerative medicine specialists will:

  • Conduct a thorough evaluation of your knee pain, including a physical examination and potentially imaging studies.
  • Discuss your running history and training routine.
  • Develop a customized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs and goals.

Beyond Treatment

In addition to the treatments listed above, other strategies you should consider to help you manage runner’s knee and prevent future occurrences include:

  • Cross-Training: Incorporate low-impact activities like swimming or cycling to maintain fitness while giving your knees a break.
  • Gait Analysis: A gait analysis can help identify any biomechanical issues in your running form that might be contributing to your knee pain. Corrective exercises can then be implemented to improve your running technique.
  • Proper Footwear: Wearing supportive shoes designed for running can significantly aid with impact absorption and joint health.

Don’t let runner’s knee sideline you! Our talented team is ready and willing to find the perfect treatment plan for you, so get in touch and get started on your recovery today.

At Chicago Arthritis and Regenerative Medicine, we offer the most advanced non-surgical musculoskeletal treatments. Our next-generation regenerative medicine procedures and pain relief technologies are used to treat a wide variety of conditions arising from sports injuries, arthritic diseases, tendonitis, overuse injuries, and back pain. Contact our Chicago office today by calling 773-348-7171 to find out how our advanced non-surgical treatments can help relieve your pain.