Prevent Runner's Knee

Runner's Knee, also called chondromalacia, patellar tendonitis, iliotibial band friction syndrome (ITBFS) or osgood-schlatters syndrome, is the most common injury causing lateral knee pain among runners. ITBS develops as a result of inflammation of the bursa, or fluid sac, around the iliotibial band, and affects athletes who are involved in sports that require running or repetitive knee bending and extension. This condition is most common in runners and cyclists. Runner's knee may also be observed in athletes who participate in tennis, volleyball, soccer and skiing.

The pain is usually located behind the kneecap. The symptoms often get worse after jumping, climbing stairs, running, or after a period of sitting. Runners will suffer from runner's knee by repeated bending and straightening of the knee joint. The resulting friction can lead to inflammation of the ITB around the kneecap.

The symptoms are intense pain in the knee when climbing, jumping, running and squatting. Usually subsiding after the activity, the pain can however be continuous when in the acute phase and make climbing or going down steps a painful experience.

To prevent runner's knee, you can warm up and stretch before running, and start by walking is a good idea. If you start feeling mild pain on the lateral part of your knee when running or cycling, wearing a knee brace especially designed to prevent runners knee should help reduce the risks of suffering more.

The DonJoy Cross Strap was designed to help prevent runner's knee. It is fabricated in one piece, so nothing will fall off and you won't lose small parts. It is designed to apply just enough pressure on the patellar tendon to avoid friction on the ITB.

It is small yet comfortable to be discreet under running pants, without any stitching. It compresses the forces above and below the knee cap to reduce tension in the ITB and the pain resulting from there.

How to treat runner's knee?

How to treat runner's knee? If you already suffer from runner's knee, consult your doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment. Most often, exercises to lengthen the ITB and strengthening the muscles around the knee cap, the quadriceps and hamstrings will be suggested. Wearing a knee strap for runners will also be recommended by most doctors. Ask your physician about knee straps and the efficiency of the DonJoy Cross Strap.

A knee brace for runner's knee is sure to help in the healing of the condition as well as maintaining the proper pressure on the appropriate places. The DonJoy Cross Strap was engineered with runners and cyclists in mind.

Of course, other athletes suffering will benefit from wearing a DonJoy Cross Strap during their sports activities to reduce knee pain and help prevent runner's knee. As mentioned above, runner's knee does not only affect runners and cyclists. If you lift weights you should consider wearing a knee strap such as the DonJoy Cross Strap as pressure on the lateral part of your knees can also cause runners knee.

It's also always a smart idea to use cold therapy and compression after activity to reduce inflammation. Runner's knee tends to respond nicely to cold therapy.