Diagnosis
How We Can Help You for Runner's Knee
Our doctors precisely diagnose and treat runner’s knee, the condition caused by a structural problem of the knee or, most often, by excess pressure and stress on the joint.
We deliver world-class care to help relieve symptoms, which may include knee pain, buckling, or a popping sensation when walking or moving your knee. Beyond relieving your symptoms, our goal is to help you return to your normal activities as quickly and safely as possible.
Our team offers the full range of treatment options but always emphasizes the least invasive approach possible. In some cases, a completely noninvasive treatment such as lifestyle modification, medication, braces or splints, or physical therapy may be most helpful for you. But if needed, we also offer all surgical procedures, from the common to the most complex.
Our specialists in orthopaedics and sports medicine work closely with our physical therapists and other professionals. Together they develop a complete care plan customized to your needs. In addition, Stanford Health Care patients with runner’s knee may have opportunities to join research studies of new treatment approaches not yet available anywhere else.
What We Offer You for Runner’s Knee
- Specialized expertise from one of the world’s leading programs focused on diagnosing and treating runner’s knee and other orthopaedic conditions.
- Team-based treatment planning that brings together highly experienced specialists who create a comprehensive care plan personalized to your unique needs.
- Advanced treatment options, always emphasizing the least invasive approaches possible but also providing state-of-the-art surgery whenever needed.
- Full support that includes care planning and follow-up focused on healing your runner’s knee to get you back on your feet.
- Clinical trial opportunities to join research studies of new innovations in the diagnosis and treatment of runner’s knee.
- Easy access to highly trained specialists conveniently located close to where you work or live.
Treatment for Runner’s Knee
Runner’s knee hurts, and just as frustrating, it interferes with many activities that make life enjoyable. Stanford’s team will thoroughly evaluate your knee pain to understand its cause. We will recommend the least-invasive option to get you back on your feet. With the right care, most people recover completely.
Our specialists in orthopaedics (bones and muscles) and sports medicine offer every kind of care for knee pain. Our sports experts and physical therapists can teach you new techniques to move with less pain. If you need surgery, our surgical team delivers precise, minimally invasive procedures for a faster recovery than open surgery.
We deliver personalized care—from physical therapy to arthroscopy—to pinpoint and treat the cause of your knee pain.
Lifestyle and Activity Modification
Nonsurgical Care
Arthroscopic and Surgical Procedures
Many people recover from runner’s knee with simple home care. Your doctor can suggest changes you can make at home, such as:
- Reducing inflammation: Rest and apply ice to your knee.
- Adapting your activities: Switch to lower-impact activities like gentle walking or swimming.
- Avoiding stress on your knees: Don’t squat, kneel, or sit with your knees bent for long periods. Steer clear of exercises that strain your knees, like deep knee bends or squats.
Some people need additional support as they heal. Your doctor may recommend:
- Pain relief: Take anti-inflammatory medications (ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or naproxen) as your doctor recommends.
- Braces, splints, or taping: These techniques hold your joint in place and support it while you heal.
- Physical therapy: You can learn new techniques to improve flexibility and strengthen your thigh muscles. Stronger thigh muscles (quadriceps) can help better align your kneecap to relieve pain.
- Running analysis: Stanford’s Human Performance Lab provides 3D gait analysis and a detailed running plan to correct your form so you can run comfortably.
If stretches, strength exercises, and rest don’t relieve your discomfort, your doctor might recommend surgery. Most knee surgeries are arthroscopic, using tiny instruments inserted through small incisions. The arthroscope has a light and a camera so your doctor can see inside your knee. For runner’s knee, your doctor might recommend:
- Knee arthroscopy: Using specialized tools, your surgeon can trim away bits of loose tissue or cartilage (the smooth tissue that covers and protects the ends of bones).
- Patella surgery: Some runner’s knee pain stems from patellar tracking disorder (misaligned kneecap). Lateral release surgery realigns your knee by correcting the way your knee, thigh, and shin fit together. Your surgeon may use an arthroscopic procedure or open surgery.
Many people recover from runner’s knee with simple home care. Your doctor can suggest changes you can make at home, such as:
- Reducing inflammation: Rest and apply ice to your knee.
- Adapting your activities: Switch to lower-impact activities like gentle walking or swimming.
- Avoiding stress on your knees: Don’t squat, kneel, or sit with your knees bent for long periods. Steer clear of exercises that strain your knees, like deep knee bends or squats.
close Lifestyle and Activity Modification
Some people need additional support as they heal. Your doctor may recommend:
- Pain relief: Take anti-inflammatory medications (ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or naproxen) as your doctor recommends.
- Braces, splints, or taping: These techniques hold your joint in place and support it while you heal.
- Physical therapy: You can learn new techniques to improve flexibility and strengthen your thigh muscles. Stronger thigh muscles (quadriceps) can help better align your kneecap to relieve pain.
- Running analysis: Stanford’s Human Performance Lab provides 3D gait analysis and a detailed running plan to correct your form so you can run comfortably.
close Nonsurgical Care
If stretches, strength exercises, and rest don’t relieve your discomfort, your doctor might recommend surgery. Most knee surgeries are arthroscopic, using tiny instruments inserted through small incisions. The arthroscope has a light and a camera so your doctor can see inside your knee. For runner’s knee, your doctor might recommend:
- Knee arthroscopy: Using specialized tools, your surgeon can trim away bits of loose tissue or cartilage (the smooth tissue that covers and protects the ends of bones).
- Patella surgery: Some runner’s knee pain stems from patellar tracking disorder (misaligned kneecap). Lateral release surgery realigns your knee by correcting the way your knee, thigh, and shin fit together. Your surgeon may use an arthroscopic procedure or open surgery.
close Arthroscopic and Surgical Procedures
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate a new medical approach, device, drug, or other treatment. As a Stanford Health Care patient, you may be eligible to participate in open clinical trials.
Open trials refer to studies that are currently recruiting participants or that may recruit participants in the near future. Closed trials are not currently enrolling, but similar studies may open in the future.
To learn more about the clinical trials we offer, contact [CT Coordinator Name] at [XXX-XXX-XXXX].
What Is Runner’s Knee?
Our Clinics
Stanford Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine offers some of the nation’s best care for orthopaedic and sports medicine conditions. With physical therapy, running assessments, and our Human Performance Lab, we’ll get to the root of your runner’s knee pain.
450 Broadway Street
450 Broadway StreetRedwood City, CA 94063
Phone: 650-723-5643 Getting Here
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