Treatment of runner’s knee

We start by loosening up the muscles and connective tissue with shockwave, to take the tension off the bursa. Then we use laser to treat the bursa. It works by sending different specific wavelengths of infrared light to the damaged area. In particular, the ability to increase the fight against inflammation, stimulate the cellular healing process and reduce pain is something we value highly. Treatment with laser painless and without side effects The cells that are already in a healing process will receive energy from outside. This strengthens and accelerates the body’s natural healing process.

With laser treatment of a running knee, we can go in to stimulate the following in the tissue:

• 650-nm Stimulates surface treatment
• 810-nm Stimulates and increases ATP production in cells
• 915-nm Stimulates a more efficient release of oxygen to the cells
• 980-nm Stimulates increased blood circulation

If you come soon after you get the symptoms, most people can be helped to a satisfactory result with somewhere between 3-5 treatments.

On the outside of the thigh there is a large and strong connective tissue membrane (fascia) from the hip crest down to the outside of the lower leg at the top. This connective tissue is called the tractus iliotibialis or T-band. At the bottom of the outer thighbone (at the level of the kneecap), there is a bursa just below this ligament.

During activities such as running and cycling, and even frequent walking, there can be a lot of friction between this fascia and the femur. It rubs against the bony prominence on the outside of the femur. This can lead to the bursa becoming inflamed. Such inflammation is called tractus iliotibialis – friction syndrome or simply runner’s knee. It can be treated in several ways, as there is an element of tightness in the muscles and fascia, as well as the inflammatory condition of the bursa. In our clinic, we use laser therapy for the treatment of running knees combined with shockwave. The condition is common in exercisers and elite athletes, particularly in long-distance running or high-repetition cycling.

What causes a running knee

You will typically have pain on the outside of the knee. Initially, the pain will be diffuse and it is often difficult to pinpoint the exact source of the pain. This also places great demands on the clinical examination, to ensure that no other structures in the knee are affected. After some time, the pain becomes more characteristic and localised, to the bony prominences on the outside of the knee.

The pain may come and go after a short run, while resting briefly may cause the pain to lessen. The pain is usually most prominent when running downhill or on flat terrain. This is due to the activity in the muscles that comes with running downhill in particular. Running uphill causes less pain as the function of the knee changes. The pain sets in earlier as the inflammation increases.

In addition, your foot and knee position also have an impact on the condition. It can come if you are wheeled or have a high swing, which will biomechanically affect the way muscles and connective tissues interact with the bony prominence of the femur.

In order to control the condition, it is necessary to reduce the activity level and work on preventive core and strength training. Once the injury is gone and normal activity is to be resumed, it is important to start out cautiously and slowly increase the intensity and volume of training, otherwise there is a high risk of the injury returning.

The clinic works with Secma Medical to train other therapists and practitioners in shockwave and laser treatment.