Conditions We Treat
"Runner's knee" is a catch-all — usually patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS), sometimes IT band syndrome, occasionally something more specific. The mechanism is almost always load and capacity mismatch, not damage. Most runners don't need to stop running entirely — they need a smarter return-to-load plan.
Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is diffuse anterior knee pain, worse with stairs and prolonged sitting, gradual onset. IT band syndrome is sharp lateral knee pain at a specific mileage threshold, worse downhill. Patellar tendinopathy is point tenderness below the kneecap. Pes anserine bursitis is medial knee pain, common in new runners. Meniscus issues usually start with a specific mechanism and produce deeper joint-line pain.
Volume jumps that violate the 10% rule, sudden hill or surface or shoe changes, hip and glute weakness (the upstream driver in most PFPS cases), cadence too low or overstriding, calf and quad strength deficits, and imbalanced training — lots of mileage with no strength work.
Sixty-minute evaluation. Single-leg squat, step-down, lateral step-down for movement screen. Hip strength testing — gluteus medius and external rotators are the usual deficit. Functional movement screen, gait observation, and treadmill jog assessment when appropriate.
Hip and glute strengthening — the highest-evidence intervention for PFPS. Quad and calf strength (neglected by most runners). Cadence and form coaching with small, evidence-based changes. Manual therapy: patellar mobilization, soft tissue work for the IT band and TFL. Dry needling for quad, glute, and TFL trigger points. Return-to-run progression built around your race calendar, not around stopping entirely. Load monitoring — what to scale back, what to keep.
Medicare, CareFirst, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Tricare. Self-pay $150. Capitol Hill, Bethesda, and in-home. Same-week evaluations.
Same-week evaluations at Capitol Hill, Bethesda, and in-home throughout the DMV.
Book a Runner's Knee EvaluationMost of the time, yes. We'll cut volume strategically and add strength work — but stopping entirely usually isn't necessary or helpful.
Usually no. Bracing can mask symptoms but doesn't address the cause. Strength and movement re-education do.
Almost never for runner's knee. We image only when the exam suggests a specific structural injury (meniscus tear with mechanical symptoms, ligament instability, etc.).
Sometimes a contributor, rarely the primary fix. Strength work outperforms shoe changes in the evidence for PFPS.
Most cases resolve in 6–10 weeks with consistent rehab. Chronic cases can take longer but still respond well.
No. They overlap in some drivers (hip weakness, training errors) but the pain pattern, exam findings, and rehab emphasis differ.
Cross-training (cycling, elliptical, pool running) is often useful to maintain fitness while we rebuild knee capacity. We'll prescribe what fits your race calendar.
Usually small, durable changes — a slight cadence bump or a shorter stride — last well beyond rehab and reduce reinjury risk.