Left Knee when running

[Tom Jones Jr]

The last 2, possibly 3 times i've had to do a WOD with running i've gotten an uncomfortable feeling in the left knee just on the outer left side of the lower part of front cap. It didn't stop me from running but it definatley made me take it easier. Then i stop and the feeling, i wouldn't call it pain exactly, subsides. On both occasions it flared up later on in the day, and then and the following day it was quite uncomfortable to walk down the stairs. It went away within 24-48 hours. I can do everything else, squat, air squat fast, KB swings and so on, it's just the running that seems to do it.

I have to run on a treadmill which might be the problem. And obviously i'm wary of it doing it again, so how do i substitute a wOD such as run 400m, 50 squats, 4rds for time? It's not a chronic pain so i'm not inclined to see a doctor because a specialist is expensive and i only get it when running on the treadmill, although i must stress only the last 2-3 times. Otherwise no history.

Ciao

[Sara Welch]

Im having the same issue! Good to know I'm not alone. I have had two left knee reconstructions and for the last 3 months have had a great deal of pain in the outside of my left knee when running. Not much else bothers it. I went back to my doctor and he did an MRI. I have a slight tear in my lateral miniscus, which could be your problem as well. Miniscus tears often hurt when the most pressure is applied, like while running. Squating may not bother it while youre doing it, but it can aggrevate it and cause it to inflame later on. I would suggest laying off the leg for a few weeks, see if that helps. If not, steroid injections can work wonders.... or worse case, you may need to have a mri to determine if its a ligament issue. Good luck! I know how bad it sucks

[Patti Carbaugh]

Originally Posted by Sara Welch

Im having the same issue! Good to know I'm not alone. I have had two left knee reconstructions and for the last 3 months have had a great deal of pain in the outside of my left knee when running. Not much else bothers it. I went back to my doctor and he did an MRI. I have a slight tear in my lateral miniscus, which could be your problem as well. Miniscus tears often hurt when the most pressure is applied, like while running. Squating may not bother it while youre doing it, but it can aggrevate it and cause it to inflame later on. I would suggest laying off the leg for a few weeks, see if that helps. If not, steroid injections can work wonders.... or worse case, you may need to have a mri to determine if its a ligament issue. Good luck! I know how bad it sucks

It sounds like you are incurring alot of wear and tear on your knees. I do know of a few people who had a stem cell procedure done and they have actually measured cartlidge re-growth from having this procedure done. They are no longer in pain and are off all pain meds.

[Steven Low]

sounds like plica syndrome

(yes, google that)

[Tom Jones Jr]

No it can't be the plica, because that is the inner side of the knee. This injury is on outer, lower left section, just outside the cap. I again ran today, on road this time. For the first 20 minutes it was ok, then flared up again and is arguably worse than the other times.

And also, this has happend only 3-4 times in my life before, starting about 2 months ago, and ONLY when running. Yesterday i did a wod which involved many air squats, no pain. Day before walking lunges no pain. Basically, i never feel a thing even when deadlifting heavy, squatting, air squatting, kb swings, thrusters and so on. Only when running. I'm quite content to forfeit the running but it is hard because many wods contain it

[Tom Jones Jr]

Ok think i may have found out what it is. Sara, may be of use to you also;

''Patello-femoral syndrome occurs when the underside of the patella becomes inflamed if irritation develops as it rides its path with each flexion and extension of the knee, and it does not track smoothly. This inflammation can cause localized pain, especially with walking down stairs and with running. Treatment includes ice, anti-inflammatory medication, and exercises to balance the quadriceps muscle. More severe cases may require arthroscopic surgery to remove some of the inflamed cartilage and realign parts of the quadriceps muscle.''

Perhaps my quadriceps muscle is inbalanced in the left side. Hmmm. But the pain is definatley localized, and subsides rapidly within 24-48hrs. Then if i do left work, fast or heavy, i do not have the pain. But running yes. And it hurts walking down the stairs.

[Tom Jones Jr]

One would assume that strenghtening the quads and hams would be a good preventative for this. I had a chronic back condition 5 yrs ago. When it subsided i started deadlifting and squatting, and it never came back.

[Mike Mallory]

The thing to ask yourself is:

Why is is it only one ONE knee?

IN my experience working with triathletes, this kind of thing is almost always concommitant with an SI joint imbalance, or an atlas subluxation, or both. Given that both of these are clear, I've never had anyone walk out of the office with the same pain.

SI joint will cause unilateral tension on the IT band/patellofemoral area, and an atlas misalignment will do the exact same thing. Inflammatory responses are almost always symptoms of these two characters. I'd find someone who can check both-

[Steven Low]

Wow, I read medial somewhere (which is why I suggested plica). But if it's outer it's usually patellofemoral syndrome/condromalacia patella/etc.

similarities: patellofemoral syndrome, tight IT band, knees collapsing inwards/valgus knee stress

This is part of the problem contributing to patellofemoral syndrome

Knees that collapse in during squatting and other type movements means that the adductors are weak, and your IT band/vastus lateralis will be tight and short (as they are bearing the weight when the knees collapse in and thus are getting stronger/tighter).

Adductor strengthening + IT band foam rolling + quad stretching + VMO (via terminal knee extensions or other source) work will help improve this.

Also, seems like your hammies are probably weak, and your glutes are inactivated. You need to get them firing correctly by doing specific exercises. Getting your hamstrings actived right during full squatting should help reduce the problems in your knees during squatting.

Read this wfs
http://www.higher-faster-sports.com/noglutes.html + specific hamstring strength work.

Make sure the gluteus is firing correctly as well. Non-firing gluteus medius can lead to valgus knee stress, flat feet, plantar fasciitis and the like.

Get the inflammation down with ice and massage.

Mike makes some good points though. One knee either means something else is off, or you have a movement problem (usually because of a previous injury).

[Tom Jones Jr]

Hmmm, wonder what that something is though.

No previous injury history in the knee, and i squat and deadlift as much as CF says to, and sometimes more, and i have never ever had any injury resulting from these movements, not even fast air squats, KB swings etc.

No pain now, but if i run it will likely react again. Not sure how to procceed with CF. Will just go get it checked out.