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- $Unique_ID{BRK00442}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{"Runner's Knee" After Long Periods of Driving}
- $Subject{runner's knee overuse pain Ill Defined Symptoms symptom
- Musculoskeletal Connective Tissue tissues weakness weak muscle muscles thigh
- vastus lateralis overused chondromalacia patellae alignment patella kneecap
- stimulator}
- $Volume{N-17, M-17}
- $Log{
- Muscles and Tendons of the Knee*0006201.scf
- Chondromalacia Patellae*0006202.scf
- Anatomy of the Ankle and Knee*0016901.scf}
-
- Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
-
-
- "Runner's Knee" After Long Periods of Driving
-
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- QUESTION: I am a salesman, spending long periods driving through my
- territory. Lately, after such a drive, I experience a piercing pain around my
- left knee when I exit my car. After a careful exam, my doctor called this a
- "runner's knee" despite the fact that I do not run or jog and only play tennis
- on a rather irregular basis. Is it possible for you to validate my
- physician's diagnosis?
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- ANSWER: I must assume your physician ran all the necessary tests and x-rays
- in addition to the careful examination you mention before making this
- diagnosis. If I am correct he probably also discussed some muscle weakness
- with you, for runner's knee is a form of anterior knee pain seen frequently in
- athletes that causes the type of pain you describe, in which there is a
- weakening of one of the muscles of the thigh (vastus lateralis). It falls
- into the category of overuse syndromes, but many types of conditions are
- grouped together and the rather inaccurate name of chondromalacia patellae is
- applied to them all. I know of your complaint as the "theatre symptom," as it
- occurs as well after long periods of sitting with the knee flexed at movies or
- concerts. Sports physicians believe the pain arises from the imbalance in the
- alignment of the patella (kneecap) because the inner thigh muscle is too weak
- to keep the cap in its proper place. A series of special exercises are in
- order, or the use of a muscle stimulator to get this muscle back in shape. If
- both your doctor and I am correct, the condition should improve in two or
- three months.
-
- ----------------
-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
-
-