Here's what I think bro, CM is very common in bodybuilders. Knee wraps can accelerate the problem.
Knee Pain
Running can be great for you; physically, mentally and emotionally; however, running also has the highest prevalence of sports injuries. The joint most often injured over any other is the knee. The pain is often a sub-patellar ache generally labeled chrondo-malacia patellae. This condition is typically brought on by a chronic muscle imbalance of the quadriceps (muscles in the front of the thigh). More specific terms are used to describe this condition.
Patello-femoral arthralgia (P.F.A.) is a condition that involves pain in the knee from medial tracking of the patella (knee cap) due to a strong vastus mediallis (muscle on the inside) over powering a weaker vastus lateralis (muscle on the outside). Pain while walking or running up hill or steps is a typical complaint from a person with P.F.A. Excessive lateral pressure syndrome (E.L.P.S.) is a condition that involves pain in the knee from lateral tracking of the patella due to the opposite muscular imbalances described above. Pain while walking or running down hill or down stairs is a typical complaint from a person with E.L.P.S. Foot pronation and other biomechanical problems can increase the Q-angle (roughly defined as the angle formed between the hip and the knee) and also causes lateral tracking of the patella.
Depending upon the severity of the imbalances, rehabilitation may take anywhere from two to eight weeks. It may be necessary to refrain from running during the rehabilitation process. You can still cross train, such as bike or swim, (most of us don't have to worry about losing our million dollar Nike contracts) and you will probably return as a stronger runner.
Treatment of these ailments begins with rest, ice, compression and elevation. Assess your running form and shoes. Make sure you are using the correct shoe for your form and gait. Next, strengthening the weaker side of the quadriceps is necessary to pull the patella into the most neutral position. This will result in less stress and strain in the joint. As running is an "ultra repetitive sport" (about 10,000 foot strikes per hour) the exercise sets will also be very repetitive. I recommend performing knee extensions for three minutes three times per day. Because of the length of the set you will start without weight. All that is needed to perform the knee extensions is a chair or bench. Those suffering from E.L.P.S. should perform extensions with toes turned outward while those suffering from P.F.A. should perform extensions with toes turned inward. Knee extensions (straightening the knee from a bent position) should be performed in a pain-free range of motion. If the knee extensions can not be performed with the knee bent more than 45 degrees without pain, if the pain has been present for a substantial period of time (more than 1 month), or the severity of pain prevents you from running, then you should seek the evaluation of a health care professional who specializes in sports injuries
Copyright 2003 = The Fleet Feet Pittsburgh Running Group
