Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Pain in the inner knee, also known as medial knee pain, can prevent you from walking andrunningnormally. The condition is sometimes referred to asrunner’s knee, a generalized term for anyknee painthat occurs with running.
The inner area of the knee is where some large muscle groups come together—including part of the hamstring muscles and the adductor muscles. Inner knee pain can come on suddenly or gradually and may occur without any specific, known injury. It can even occur when you are not running.
Verywell / Theresa Chiechi
This article outlines the symptoms and causes of runner’s knee as well as how the condition is diagnosed and treated. It also explains when more invasive treatments, including surgery, may be needed.
Symptoms of Medial Knee Pain
Symptoms of runner’s knee can vary but often include:
Inner knee pain is usually intermittent and occurs during running or immediately after running. It can also happen with any activity that puts stress on the knee joint.
The pain often occurs during weight-bearing activities such as stair-climbing. It can limit your ability to bend or straighten your knee.
What Causes Medial Knee Pain?
When you are running or walking, the best position for your knee is directly over your foot. Sometimes,flat feetcause your lower leg to turn inward. This can place increased stress on the inner part of the knee joint, causing pain.
What Is Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome?Patellofemoral pain syndrome is the same thing as runner’s knee. It is considered a disorder of thepatellofemoral joint. Besides running, other causes of the condition include walking up anddown stairs, squatting, lunging, or standing up from sitting.
What Is Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome?
Patellofemoral pain syndrome is the same thing as runner’s knee. It is considered a disorder of thepatellofemoral joint. Besides running, other causes of the condition include walking up anddown stairs, squatting, lunging, or standing up from sitting.
How Is Medial Knee Pain Diagnosed?
Diagnosing inner knee pain can be challenging because there may not be one clear cause. In many cases, multiple conditions contribute to your pain. Figuring out which are involved can take time.
During the physical examination for inner knee pain, your healthcare provider will assess various structures around your knee. This exam may include:
Imaging tests are often also part of the evaluation and may include:
Treatment for Medial Knee Pain
There are various treatments for runner’s knee. They range from simple home remedies to more invasive medical procedures. It’s best to stop running until your pain is gone or you have a healthcare provider’s clearance.
With the right treatment, you can expect your knee pain to go away in a few short weeks.
Home Remedies
Home remedies for inner knee pain can decrease your pain and improve your overall mobility:
When to See a Healthcare Provider
There are times when inner knee pain requires more than an ice pack and Advil. Consider seeing a healthcare provider if:
Medical Treatments
If pain persists despite these home treatments, call your healthcare provider. They may refer you to anorthopedic surgeonwho specializes in bone and joint problems.
Medical treatments for runner’s knee may involve:
Surgery for medial knee pain is generally considered a last resort once all other treatments have failed.
Most people who have arthroscopic knee surgery return to pain-free walking within four to six weeks. More complex knee surgeries, like a total knee replacement, may require around six months of dedicated rehabilitation to get back to normal.
How to Prevent Medial Knee Pain
If you’re a runner, using the proper running form can help prevent runner’s knee. For example, shorter running strides and making sure your knee is directly over your foot when running or walking.
Other strategies to prevent knee pain and injuries include the following:
Doing certain types of stretches can loosen tight leg muscles, as well as muscles on the side of the knee, that may be pulling the kneecap out of its groove as it moves.
Summary
Inner knee pain that occurs with walking, running, or weight-bearing activities is often referred to as runner’s knee. Runner’s knee can vary in its severity but typically causes pain and swelling in the medial (inner) part of the knee just under the kneecap.
Depending on the severity, runner’s knee may be treated with ice or heat application, over-the-counter painkillers, exercise, and a change of footwear. Severe cases may require prescription painkillers, physical therapy, cortisone knee injections, viscosupplementation, or surgery.
A Word From VerywellMedial knee pain can be a result of a number of different factors, which can make it challenging to treat. If you experience medial knee pain after running that does not improve with activity modification or the home remedies listed above, check in with your healthcare provider. They may start with conservative treatments, like a referral to physical therapy, to address the pain.—LAURA CAMPEDELLI, DPT, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
Medial knee pain can be a result of a number of different factors, which can make it challenging to treat. If you experience medial knee pain after running that does not improve with activity modification or the home remedies listed above, check in with your healthcare provider. They may start with conservative treatments, like a referral to physical therapy, to address the pain.—LAURA CAMPEDELLI, DPT, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Medial knee pain can be a result of a number of different factors, which can make it challenging to treat. If you experience medial knee pain after running that does not improve with activity modification or the home remedies listed above, check in with your healthcare provider. They may start with conservative treatments, like a referral to physical therapy, to address the pain.
—LAURA CAMPEDELLI, DPT, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Knee injuries.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Knee pain and problems.UpToDate.Patient education: knee pain (beyond the basics).Johns Hopkins Medicine.Torn meniscus.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Bursitis.Physiopedia.Plica syndrome.Schubert AG, Kempf J, Heiderscheit BC.Influence of stride frequency and length on running mechanics: a systematic review. Sports Health. 2014;6(3):210-7. doi:10.1177/1941738113508544Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS).Patellofemoral Disorders: An Overview.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Common knee injuries.Poirier A, Grooms D, Simon J, Starkey C.Magnetic resonance imaging of the effects of an ice bag treatment on peroneal artery diameter.JSMAHS. 2019;5(1). doi:10.25035/jsmahs.05.01.08Kang S-H, Hwang S-J.Effects of superficial and deep thermotherapy with hot-pack and ultrasound on flexibility on hamstring muscles.jkpts. 2017;24(2):45-52. doi:10.26862/jkpts.2017.09.24.2.45Jin, J.Running injuries.JAMA. 2014;312(2):202. doi:10.1001/jama.2013.283011Harvard Medical School.Take control of your knee pain.
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Knee injuries.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Knee pain and problems.UpToDate.Patient education: knee pain (beyond the basics).Johns Hopkins Medicine.Torn meniscus.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Bursitis.Physiopedia.Plica syndrome.Schubert AG, Kempf J, Heiderscheit BC.Influence of stride frequency and length on running mechanics: a systematic review. Sports Health. 2014;6(3):210-7. doi:10.1177/1941738113508544Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS).Patellofemoral Disorders: An Overview.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Common knee injuries.Poirier A, Grooms D, Simon J, Starkey C.Magnetic resonance imaging of the effects of an ice bag treatment on peroneal artery diameter.JSMAHS. 2019;5(1). doi:10.25035/jsmahs.05.01.08Kang S-H, Hwang S-J.Effects of superficial and deep thermotherapy with hot-pack and ultrasound on flexibility on hamstring muscles.jkpts. 2017;24(2):45-52. doi:10.26862/jkpts.2017.09.24.2.45Jin, J.Running injuries.JAMA. 2014;312(2):202. doi:10.1001/jama.2013.283011Harvard Medical School.Take control of your knee pain.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Knee injuries.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Knee pain and problems.UpToDate.Patient education: knee pain (beyond the basics).Johns Hopkins Medicine.Torn meniscus.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Bursitis.Physiopedia.Plica syndrome.Schubert AG, Kempf J, Heiderscheit BC.Influence of stride frequency and length on running mechanics: a systematic review. Sports Health. 2014;6(3):210-7. doi:10.1177/1941738113508544Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS).Patellofemoral Disorders: An Overview.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Common knee injuries.Poirier A, Grooms D, Simon J, Starkey C.Magnetic resonance imaging of the effects of an ice bag treatment on peroneal artery diameter.JSMAHS. 2019;5(1). doi:10.25035/jsmahs.05.01.08Kang S-H, Hwang S-J.Effects of superficial and deep thermotherapy with hot-pack and ultrasound on flexibility on hamstring muscles.jkpts. 2017;24(2):45-52. doi:10.26862/jkpts.2017.09.24.2.45Jin, J.Running injuries.JAMA. 2014;312(2):202. doi:10.1001/jama.2013.283011Harvard Medical School.Take control of your knee pain.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Knee injuries.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Knee pain and problems.
UpToDate.Patient education: knee pain (beyond the basics).
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Torn meniscus.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Bursitis.
Physiopedia.Plica syndrome.
Schubert AG, Kempf J, Heiderscheit BC.Influence of stride frequency and length on running mechanics: a systematic review. Sports Health. 2014;6(3):210-7. doi:10.1177/1941738113508544
Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS).Patellofemoral Disorders: An Overview.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Common knee injuries.
Poirier A, Grooms D, Simon J, Starkey C.Magnetic resonance imaging of the effects of an ice bag treatment on peroneal artery diameter.JSMAHS. 2019;5(1). doi:10.25035/jsmahs.05.01.08
Kang S-H, Hwang S-J.Effects of superficial and deep thermotherapy with hot-pack and ultrasound on flexibility on hamstring muscles.jkpts. 2017;24(2):45-52. doi:10.26862/jkpts.2017.09.24.2.45
Jin, J.Running injuries.JAMA. 2014;312(2):202. doi:10.1001/jama.2013.283011
Harvard Medical School.Take control of your knee pain.
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