Why did it happen to me? How could the activity that I love to do so much cause me so much discomfort! You are not alone. Injuries to the knee are very common in competitive and recreational athletes. They can occur from trauma, a fall or a twist as well as from overuse, including activities like running. The knee and its internal structures are made up mostly of collagen, a strong string like fibrous material. High-energy forces can cause this collagen to tear or break. Overuse can cause progressive microscopic tearing of the tissue, which can ultimately lead to failure and cause pain.

One of the most common overuse injuries to the knee is "Runner's knee" or Patellofemoral syndrome. A change in normal activity like an unusually hard workout, or a longer than usual bike ride can lead to a strain around the kneecap and its' surrounding tissues. Pain occurs in the front of the knee that can be worse with activities like running, walking stairs, and even sitting at the movies with your legs bent for a long period of time. Treatment is often conservative which consists of:

1. Activity modification: Stay active with something that doesn't aggravate it
2. Ice the area 10-15 minutes 2 -3 times a day
3. Perform some gentle stretching and strengthening exercises to help the healing process
4. Be patient, this can take some time to heal.

Injuries to the internal structures of the knee like the meniscus occur more commonly from trauma. These cartilage discs, medial and lateral menisci, act like shock absorbers to the knee. From a twisting type trauma they can be torn. Initial treatment is often as described above. Healing can sometimes take 6-8 weeks. If there is persistent pain, you should seek out professional help.

Recognizing that something is injured is the first step in getting better. Don't ignore pain. Listen to your body it's the only one you've got. Train and play smart.

Mark Klion, MD

Dr. Mark Klion is a board certified Orthopedic Surgeon and Ironman Triathlon athlete based out of Manhattan, NY. He is also the co-owner of BodyWorks MD, a video series on the prevention, care and rehabilitation of sports related injuries. Visit www.bodyworksmd.com for more information.

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