Health Help
My knee creaks when I run and it’s especially sore when I run up and down hills. Should I be concerned?
A “creaky” knee is commonly due to an osteoarthritic knee, which occurs when the cartilage of the joints has thinned out and loose fragments are floating within the knee. Most times, runners can continue with their activities. However, a runner should seek medical attention if the knee is swollen or if daily activities have been altered to cope with the niggling knee issues for a long period of time. Medical evaluations can exclude more serious injuries such as a meniscus or a ligament tear.
Knee pain from running up and down slopes can also radiate from the kneecap (patella femoral joint) due to certain conditions including iliotibial band syndrome (an overuse injury of the connective tissues in the knee, thigh and hip) and patella femoral osteoarthritis, which can result from increased pressure and force exerted on the surface of the joint when running on inclines.
Running repeatedly can also stress the patella tendon, the muscle that stretches from the kneecap to the shinbone at the front of the leg. It can become inflamed, resulting in pain on or under the kneecap. If you feel this type of pain, you should:
• Stop repeating the activity that is causing the pain to prevent it from getting worse;
• splint or brace the knee to decrease the stress on the tendon;
• consider taking anti-inflammatory medications to decrease the inflammation and pain;
• consider shockwave therapy and physiotherapy to help strengthen the surrounding muscles; and,
• consider PRP (platelet rich plasma) injections to stimulate the healing process.
Of course, it’s best to consult your doctor if you think you have any of these conditions.
Spire Orthopaedic Centre
• #18-03 Royal Square Medical Centre, 101 Irrawaddy Road | 6970 4468
• #08-04 Gleneagles Medical Centre, 6 Napier Road 6970 6628 spireortho.com.sg