Former athlete, fighting possible "runner's knee" or similar issue.

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I know the common reply might be "go to a doctor", but all my family is in medicine and I have usually been pretty good at figuring myself out, but this issue has me puzzled.  

I was a former track sprinter/jumper/etc.  I am late 30s but usually stay active.  I have not ran in about a year.  I got back to it and started getting knee pain directly under my patella, and some pain just above it.  My knee is not what I would call unstable, and I have minimal pain walking, but the BIG trigger is stepping up a step!!  About 15* bend and try to load up my leg, OUCH....  however, I was able to successfully do some lighter weight squats tonight with minimal pain.  Once the angle goes beyond 15*, the pain decreases.  I can also sprint if I need to, though my knee does not like it.  Seems to get inflamed.  

I may have caused an injury to the knee last year however.  I kicked a football and I believe hyperextended it .  I did not feel any pop, but instant and crippling pain, though the pain went away in about 10min and I was able to walk home.  It scared me, as the first thought in my head was "this is it, surgery is in my future"....

I would say my quads have atrophied more than I want to admit and I know my legs need rebuilt but I need to get this knee to work with me on this.  

Anyone have any thoughts in diagnosis, rehab, exercises that will help me?  I was thinking to try patellar taping but not sure that will help.  

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  • Posted

    Like you said, go see a specialist before you start any rehabilitative exercises. Once you are clear to start exercising you should focus on strength building exercises and exercises that help you stretch out your thigh muscle: https://www.injurymap.com/diagnoses/jumpers-knee

    I used the exercises in this link to treat my own knee pain so that could be a great place to start. Otherwise, ask a rheumatologist or a physio for a training program. 

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