Runner’s Knee; Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

ShoreOrtho Sports Performance & Injury Prevention Tips

A monthly series
presented by:
Damon A. Greene, MD
Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon
Shore Orthopaedic University Associates
July 2020

Runner’s Knee

Patellofemoral pain syndrome also called Runners knee refers to pain under and around your kneecap.  Runner’s knee is a term that can describe many medical conditions such as anterior knee pain syndrome, patellofemoral malalignment, and chondromalacia patella. All of these conditions can cause pain around the anterior portion of the knee. Runner’s knee is a common complaint among many athletes from soccer players to jumpers to skiers and of course runners.

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Causes

Runner’s knee can happen for many reasons.  From poor alignment of the kneecap, complete or partial dislocation, overuse, tight or weak thigh muscles, flat feet, direct trauma to the knee.  Patellofemoral pain often comes from the softening of the cartilage that lines the underside of the kneecap. The pain can also arise from the strained ligaments and tendons around the knee.

New knees, new hips–to go

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Our 2nd Annual Innovation Issue!
Same-day Joint Replacement Steps Up
Lola Butcher

Stephen J. Zabinski, MD
Shore Orthopaedic University

New knees, new hips–to go
Bundled payment is pushing providers to look for ways to control the cost of joint replacements. Is joint replacement going to become outpatient surgery?
If you want a hip or knee replaced by Stephen Zabinski, MD, a surgeon at Shore Orthopedics Associates in Somers Point, N.J., you’re in for some homework.
If you’re a smoker, that’s got to stop; there will be no surgery if you’re aren’t nicotine-free for at least six weeks. Patients with diabetes must get their HbA1c level under control. Those with sleep apnea must document they are using the CPAP machine as per doctor’s orders. Patients with a body mass index of 45 or more must take off some weight; Zabinski’s threshold is 40 if a patient has certain comorbidities. You may need to do strength and mobility training—so-called prehab—before surgery.

Shore Orthopedics offers support for all the to-do items, but the surgeon is not going to let you off the hook. Patients must sign a contract agreeing to comply with the practice’s “total joint pathway,” and they must designate a “total joint companion” who will help them recover but also hold them accountable for following the rules. In return, Zabinski promises to get them home quickly and avoid detours to a rehab facility. He operates on Medicare patients at Shore Medical Center; some get a same-day discharge while others stay 24 to 48 hours. Most patients younger than 65 never set foot in an inpatient facility.

KNEE REPLACEMENT GIVES PATIENTS A PAIN-FREE LIFE

Shore Medical Center:

ADVANCED SPINE AND ORTHOPEDIC INSTITUTE

“Shore Healthy Living” Newsletter

February 13, 2019

Knee replacement surgeries are a daily occurrence for Dr. Stephen Zabinski and his fellow orthopedic surgeons at Shore Orthopaedic University Associates (SOUA) in Somers Point. “Knees are by far the most common of all joints that are replaced,” said Dr. Zabinski who has been performing knee replacement surgery for more than 20 years.  “Knees are also the joint most commonly affected by osteoarthritis. They are also the most subjective to sports injury and most affected by weight. Those factors can wear the knees away.”

Most patients will visit SOUA with complaints of discomfort from osteoarthritis, though there are many forms of arthritis that negatively impact joints and bones. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis in the knee. It is a degenerative, “wear-and-tear” type of arthritis where the cartilage gradually wears away. It occurs most often in people age 50 and older, but may occur in younger people as well, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Dr. Zabinski added that genetics also plays a factor and said people who tend to sit cross-legged as they eat, or kneel often may have significant discomfort in their knee simply because they are putting a lot of additional stress on the knee itself.

ARE YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW SUFFERING FROM KNEE PAIN?

By: Thomas A. Barrett, M.D.
Shore Orthopaedic University Associates

Recognizing a knee problem can occur at anytime. Arthritic knee problems may be related to previous injury, demands placed on it over a lifetime, or a family predisposition.

When to seek help is usually prompted by either severe pain or just that nagging ache that won’t resolve. There are a number of ‘over-the-counter’ remedies that most of us try at some point. Taking time out for a doctor appointment is saved for when other options don’t seem to make much headway toward resolving the problem.

Arthritic pain can become more than an annoyance for some. Giving up activities or declining invitations because the knee won’t “make it” are common concerns. In the worst cases even a good night’s sleep can be difficult.

When To See A Doctor?
If you are suffering from…

• Prolonged joint pain
• Joint swelling
• Redness or warmth about the joint
• Loss of sleep due to pain
• Pain after a period of rest
• Diminishing motion or progressive limp
• Limitation of normal activities
• Inability to participate as desired due to pain
• Multiple episodes of pain during a month

Many conditions can cause or contribute to joint pain and many treatments exist.

Total Left Knee Replacement Surgery at Shore Medical Center

Dear Shore,
After 25 years working on my feet at a local supermarket and meniscus surgery on both knees, normal wear and tear had made getting around increasingly difficult. I had received cortisone shots to relieve the pain in my left knee, but began having such a hard time going up and down stairs that I knew that something had to be done.

In consultation with Dr. Zabinski, I scheduled my total left knee replacement surgery at Shore Medical Center. It was my first time at Shore, and from start to finish I had a wonderful experience. I began by attending one of Shore’s joint replacement education classes, and am glad I did. I learned valuable information that I was able to use, not only while I was at the medical center, but also when I’d returned home after surgery. My visit for pre-admission testing was very quick and easy, and my surgery and recovery could not have gone more smoothly. After my surgery, I was up and moving around the same day. Everyone was pleasant and attentive. I went home the next day, and the whole experience was much easier than I had anticipated.