Suffering From Runner’s Knee? Instead of Surgery, Consider These Natural Treatments

If you tend to suffer from runner’s knee, you might think you’re headed for the operating room, but all hope is not lost – consider these natural treatments and you’re likely to find relief without going under the knife.
Patellofemoral pain syndrome, AKA “runner’s knee,” is one of the most common exercise-related injuries in adults. It isn’t a specific type of injury, but a term that describes a collective group of painful knee symptoms. Most mild-to-moderate cases of the condition go away on their own, simply by good ‘ol rest, ice packs and stretching – if you’re continuing to suffer from it, you might think surgery is in order, but only rarely does runner’s knee require going to such drastic measures.
Causes of Runner’s Knee
It’s difficult to pinpoint an exact cause of runner’s knee. It can be a biomechanical problem, meaning the patella may be larger on the outside than it is on the inside, it might dislocate easily, or, it may sit too high in the femoral groove. If cartilage becomes worn, the knee is less able to absorb shock, or if knees turn in or out too much, that can pull the patella sideways.
Runner’s knee can also be caused by muscular issues, such as calf muscles that place added pressure on the knee, or weak quadriceps that can lead the patella to become out of alignment. Even the repetitive force of a normal running stride can lead to the condition.
Risk Factors for Runner’s Knee
Runners aren’t the only ones prone to suffer from runner’s knee either. You’re more subject to the condition if any of these factors apply to you:
- Improper form when working out, particularly when performing certain exercise that requires repetitive leg motion, like dancing or climbing stairs
- Exercising on uneven pavement
- Starting out a strenuous exercise too quickly, like increasing running mileage or the intensity of a run or other type of exercise too fast
- Not replacing workout shoes often enough
- Being overweight or obese
- Having a history of a disorder that affects the joints like arthritis or osteoarthritis
Common Symptoms of Runner’s Knee
The symptoms of runner’s knee can vary, but the most common signs are:
- Pain toward the back of the knee
- Throbbing pain that flip flops from dull to sharp in either one or both knees
- A “popping” or “cracking” sensation that makes it feel as if your knee is about to give out
- Difficulty walking, running, climbing, bending or squatting
- Signs of swelling, such as redness and heat around the knee or fluid retention
- Tenderness and sometimes swelling, that typically radiates outward, below or behind the affected knee
Conventional Treatment for Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
If you visit your healthcare provider to treat runner’s knee, you’ll likely be injected with a corticosteroid, which helps to reduce inflammation and swelling that’s associated with the pain.
The problem with that is that while it does address the throbbing and swelling, it won’t get to the root of the issue, which means symptoms may return. And if you’re thinking, “What about steroids?” Well, those can’t be used on a long-term basis, typically come with a host of side effects, and aren’t well-tolerated by all.
Natural Treatments for Runner’s Knee
The good news is that there are natural treatments that can be just as effective, if not more so, and come without the side effects, like these.
Follow an Anti-Inflammatory Diet
Consuming healthy, anti-inflammatory foods and supplements can help control inflammation that leads to pain. It also ensures that your body gets the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and electrolytes needed that are essential for carrying out natural healing of the musculoskeletal system. That’s because when you’re deficient in important nutrients, it contributes to reduced blood flow, deterioration, aging and inflammation.
An anti-inflammatory diet means avoiding processed junk and eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, healthy fats from foods like coconut oil and olive oil, wild-caught salmon and “clean protein,” like nuts and seeds – and, be sure to spice up your meals too, as many not only add a tasty flavor, they offer health benefits too.
Use Turmeric Liberally, and Often
Turmeric is a true wonder spice – in fact, it seems there is almost nothing that this amazing herb can’t do. In addition to offering a multitude of health benefits, it’s long been used as a natural treatment for pain as it possesses strong anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, analgesic and antibacterial properties that can stop it in its tracks. Turmeric is also known to help support joint and connective tissue health as you age.
Strengthen and Stretch the Quads and Hamstrings
Runner’s knee can often result in those who have weak quadriceps and/or tight hamstrings, which means adding cross-training or specific exercises to strengthen and stretch your entire leg are important to include in your regular routine.
Give your Knees a Break
If you’ve been overdoing the running or any type of exercise, it could be that your knees just need to rest. Some of the clues that they need a break include pain or other symptoms that begin during or right after a run, or start around the time you begin your run and then decrease when you stop.
If you’re running or exercising in some other way and find that in the middle of it the pain gets so great you have to stop, it’s probably time to give it a rest.
See a Professional to Ensure Correct Form and Posture
An expert can help you correct your form and posture to reduce the stress that’s placed on vulnerable joints like the knees.
Why the Effort is Worth the Reward
Taking steps like changing your diet, adding cross-training, resting and ensuring proper form when exercising may take some effort, but it’s a whole lot less invasive than surgery – and, you’ll likely feel much better for it over the long term too.
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good information i’ll favorite it!
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Good information
I have been fortunate to not be suffering from this, but will keep this in mind as I do brisk walking for exercise. I will pass it on to my runner friends.
Thank you for sharing. We hope your friends find the article useful!
I do not have Runner’s knee, but I do have RA. I found this info really helpful!
Great tips, thanks.
You are very welcome.
Now I can take care of my knee that I hurt a few months ago!!
I love the idea of taking tumeric but I find it’s terrible for my heart burn!
good info!
Shared for my friend’s on Facebook.
My dad has trouble with his knees from years of running. I’ll have to let him know about this! Thank you!
You are welcome. We hope this article will be of great help to him.
Thank you for the information.
I didn’t know that one of the risk factors for runners knee is not replacing your workout shoes often enough. I agree that turmeric is a super-supplement! I have taken it, along with tart cherry and boswellia for their anti-inflammatory properties.
Sharing helpful information is one of our objectives. Natural products are always safe and effective!
my knees are my only weakness
We hope this article was informative and useful to you.
I am reading more and more the benefits of Tumeric in our diet. Thanks for sharing this post.
You are very welcome. Turmeric has so many health benefits, it is a great supplement to take daily.
Very useful information!
good to know!
great info
This is all gret information and I have been thinking about adding tumeric to my diet, I have been hearing so many wonderful things about it.
Turmeric is indeed a wonder spice. It has so many health benefits. Make sure to add it your daily diet.
I run daily, so learning about Turmeric Curcumin is a potential godsend. Thank you for the information!
You are very welcome. Taking turmeric daily has so many health benefits, if you want to try it we have many options available:
http://schwartzbioresearch.com/collections/turmeric
Let us know how it works for you.
Interesting
I Have It In Both Knees . Thanks For so much great info..
I’ve suffered from runners knee before and it is no joke! These are great!
Take it from someone who knows. We hope your knee is so much better now!
I have a wonky knee that hurts when I do too many squats and plies, but that doesn’t stop me. I do follow an anti-inflammatory diet, which does help.
I use this product and would not be without it. It is fantastic!
Thank you very much! We strive to manufacture the safest and most effective products for your health.
My knee sometimes has problems but I don’t know all this until I read this article things I can do for it! I appreciate the article nd will sure with family !
We hope your knee gets better with these helpful tips and information.
Diet is so important.
A balanced diet is important. We need proper nutrition so our body can function well.
I don’t suffer runners knees but I use coconut oils in my foods for over all joints
Coconut oil is a good source of healthy fats. It is one of the richest sources of lauric acid.
ty 4 all the info
Such good advice here! 🙂
I’d like to know more about gout.
Gout is a type of arthritis that is caused by the buildup of too much uric acid in the body. This usually occurs in the big toe. The toe becomes very sore, red, warm and swollen.
If you are prone to gout, avoid foods rich in purines which your body breaks down into uric acid.
Good information. I know changing my diet has helped me a lot!
A proper diet is all we need to stay fit and healthy.
Thanks so much for all the very useful information
You are most welcome!
Really great info!
Thank you!
Such good information. Tanks for the information.
Our pleasure!
Being active and a runner myself there are time i suffer from runner knee. It pains me and debilitates me rendering me to doing nothing but slouch. Thankfully my daily intake of turmeric curcumin and intake of natural anti inflammatory foods helped me recover easier. I also learned to correct my form and stance to prevent injuries.
We are very sorry to hear that. Turmeric is indeed a wonder spice! Adding it to you daily diet is really beneficial. If you haven’t done it already, you may want to try our turmeric supplement.
Recently my knees have been giving me a lot of problems, I had just added Turmeric to a lot of the foods I cook
We hope your knees feel so much better now! You may want to try our turmeric supplement, it has helped a lot of customers in the same situation.
Good shoes are so important.
They are!
I will make a copy of this and keep! Thank you!
It is our pleasure to be able to share useful information.
Great information to know. I have pain in both knees and I’m glad to hear that surgery is not my only option.
We hope the information we shared will be of great help to you. You may want to try our turmeric supplement, it has helped a lot of customers in the same situation.
I know in the past I have suffered from a hurt knee, I am glad I read this, I think it has a lot to do with the shoes I was wearing and probably not taking the right vitamins.
We are sorry to hear that. Hopefully, your knees are better now. Good shoes are indeed important and vitamins really help too. If you haven’t done it already, you may want to try our turmeric supplement.
Turmeric is awesome for inflammation
You are right! Turmeric is awesome in so many ways! When choosing a supplement or if you eat turmeric with food, make sure it doesn’t have any fillers or binders. We at Schwartz manufacture a turmeric curcumin FREE of GMO, binders, fillers and preservatives.
I’ve never had Runner’s Knee but if I do I the future I’ll be better informed.
Glad to be able to share this article with you!
I have learned so much from the information you provided. This will help my granddaughter and her problems with her knee.
We hope it helps her knee feel better!
Can this help with arthritis due to a tibial plateau fracture?
For as long as these are not restricted by your doctor, you are very welcome to try them out.
As an avid runner, I have suffered from runner’s knee. I find that strengthening and Stretching the Quads and Hamstrings works the best.
Thank you for sharing!
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We are very happy to know that! We regularly upload articles, you can visit our blog often.
My son is a marathon runner and has recently been raving about the benefits of Tumeric!
Your son is not alone! Turmeric is one of a kind as it has so many health benefits. You may want to try our turmeric supplement, it is currently the #1 Best Seller Turmeric on Amazon.com.
My spouse needs to read these
We would be happy for you to share. We hope this will be of help to him.
Very informative.
Thank you!
Helpful tips!
Thank you. We love sharing them!
weight lifting helps
Thank you for sharing.
Good to know
It’s not just runner’s knee – spinners knee!
Great article, full of useful information! I love Turmeric, it’s a true wellness Gem. Looking forward to trying your brand.
Thank you! You can find our turmeric on our website.
I think an anti-inflammatory diet is a good idea for everyone.
We agree! It is important that we know the right food to eat.
I have been using turmeric and ginger in my green tea to help with pain in the joints of my hands. It has helped quite a bit.
That is one healthy tea! We hope your hands feel so much better. As an additional help you may want to try our turmeric supplement, it is currently the #1 Best Seller Turmeric on Amazon.com.
“Wow’ so nice to hear about this,I was unaware it even existed.Seem to do the body such wonders,will have to try asap.Thanks so much.
You are welcome.
I’m going to share this with a friend who has this problem. Cronic.
Thank you. We hope it will help him.
You should always try this first.
A natural option when available is always the better option.
I have knee.problems so this aS helpful.
We hope this will help with the problem.
What great tips. Thank you.
You are welcome!
Thank you for the tips. I’m 65 and don’t have the problem(s) yet; but, I will pass these ideas on to some much younger friends who have considered surgery. I’ll also be aware of what to look out for and potential solutions. Wonderful information!
Thank you very much! We hope your friends will benefit from the article.
Great information
Thank you!
I need to try some of this. I am too young to have knee issues and when the weather is colder they ache. Even with exercise daily.
We hope this helps!
Very helpful information, I will pass it on to a friend that I know suffers from it.
Thank you. We hope your friend feels better.
Was just in car acc hit both knees ty for the info
We are sorry to hear that. We hope these natural treatments will be helpful!
This was great! My daughter is a dance teacher and has trouble with her knees. Shared it for her. Thanks!
We hope these will be very helpful. Thank you for sharing!
WISH I WOULD HAVE KNOWN THIS BEFORE I HAD MY RIGHT KNEE REPLACED.
We hope your surgery went well. You can always share this information to your loved ones who might be suffering from this.