WHAT IS IT?
Runner's knee gets its name from who it shows up in most but you don't have to be a runner to feel it. It's pain around or under the kneecap that shows up during activity, after sitting for a long time, or when you go up and down stairs. Most of the time what's actually driving it is a quad that's overworking and pulling on the patellar tendon. your knee is taking the blame for a problem that started somewhere else.
common symptoms and signs
pain around or under the kneecap
pain that gets worse going up or down stairs
aching after sitting for long periods with knees bent
pain that increases with running, squatting, or jumping
a dull throb that starts during activity and lingers after
swelling or puffiness around the kneecap
feeling like your knee needs to "warm up" before it moves well
Who is a good fit?
you're someone who wants to understand what's going on in your body and actually do something about it. We work best with people who are ready to be an active part of their recovery, not just lie on a table and hope for the best.
RUNNER’S KNEE
Ready to get back to moving?
Book an appointment and we'll figure out what's going on and how to fix it.
why does this happen?
Runner's knee shows up in runners, shocking i know! but dancers, gymnasts, pickleball and tennis players, really any athlete who spends a lot of time loading their quads can be affected too. It's also extremely common in young athletes going through growth spurts - the bones grow faster than the muscles can keep up, and the knee takes the hit.
It's one of the most common overuse injuries we see because it builds slowly. You don't remember a specific moment it started, it just kind of showed up and hasn't left.
The good news is it responds really well to treatment when you address what's actually driving it instead of just resting and hoping it calms down.
how we treat it
We start with a movement exam to figure out where the breakdown is happening — usually it's not just the knee. From there we use a combination of cupping, IASTM, and dry needling to address the muscle tightness and overactivity that's pulling on the joint. Then we progressively load the quad and surrounding muscles so they can actually handle what you're asking them to do.
The goal isn't to get you out of pain temporarily. It's to build the capacity so the knee stops being the weak link.