Want to run pain-free? Run better

Some physical therapists south of the border published a nice little study on treating patellofemoral pain (AKA Runner’s Knee) last year. Instead of treating the pain site, these guys went ahead and cleaned up the movement pattern. In this case, it meant providing automatic feedback to subjects while they ran on a treadmill. The results were significant improvements in pain, function and running mechanics. There was also a reduction on vertical (impact) forces which, undoubtedly, helped all of the above.

runners knee v2 Want to run pain free? Run better

What’s interesting about this study was that nobody came in and reduced pain to its component parts. To this day, many physiotherapists blame the VMO (vastus medialis obliquus) for this kind of knee pain. Is it the VMO? Maybe. Will targeting the VMO in an isolationist manner work? Probably not. It’s kind of letting the tail wag the dog because it will only help if it directly contributes to good running mechanics. However, a far more efficient approach to this end goal is – well, just as this study showed – to improve running mechanics.

You can view the study here.