Pain Around the Kneecap When Running? What It Could Mean
Pain around or behind the kneecap is a common problem in runners and physically active people.
You may notice it while running, going up or down stairs, squatting, or after sitting with your knee bent for a long time.
One possible cause is patellofemoral pain, often called runner’s knee. But not every pain around the kneecap has the same cause.
If the pain keeps returning or starts limiting your activity, understanding what may be contributing to it is an important first step.
At OsteopathyNearMe in Etobicoke, we assess musculoskeletal knee complaints to better understand your symptoms and determine whether osteopathic care is appropriate.
What Causes Pain Around the Kneecap When Running?
“Runner’s knee” is a common name for patellofemoral pain — discomfort felt around or behind the kneecap.
Despite the name, you don’t have to be a runner to experience it.
Symptoms are commonly noticed during activities such as:
Running
Going up or down stairs
Squatting
Lunging
Jumping
Gym training
Sitting with the knee bent for a long time
These patterns are commonly described in clinical guidelines for patellofemoral pain.
Why Does My Knee Hurt When I Run?
There isn’t always one simple cause.
Running repeatedly loads the knee, and symptoms can sometimes appear after increasing distance, intensity, frequency, or returning to activity after a break.
When assessing knee pain, we may consider:
When the symptoms started
Recent changes in training
Which movements reproduce the pain
Previous injuries
Knee and hip function
Your usual sport or physical activity
The important point is that knee pain should not automatically be blamed on one muscle, one joint, or a supposed “misalignment.”
Current research supports a broader, individualized approach to patellofemoral pain rather than assuming that one factor explains every case.
Why Does My Knee Hurt on Stairs or When Squatting?
This is another common question.
Stairs and squatting increase the demands placed on the knee while it is bent, which can reproduce symptoms around the kneecap.
However, pain during stairs or squatting does not automatically mean you have runner’s knee.
Different knee conditions can produce similar symptoms, which is why an assessment can be useful when the problem persists.
Does Runner’s Knee Go Away on Its Own?
Sometimes symptoms settle, but for some people they can persist or repeatedly return.
A recent systematic review also found that predicting exactly how patellofemoral pain will progress for an individual remains difficult.
If your knee feels better after resting but the pain returns every time you start running again, it may be worth having it assessed rather than repeatedly guessing at the cause.
Can an Osteopath Assess Knee Pain From Running?
Yes. An osteopathic musculoskeletal assessment can help build a clearer picture of your symptoms.
Depending on your presentation, assessment may include the knee as well as relevant movement and function of the hip, ankle and surrounding tissues.
The goal is not to find a single “misalignment.”
Instead, we try to understand what may be contributing to your symptoms and whether osteopathic care is appropriate for your particular presentation.
Current evidence also supports active rehabilitation as an important part of managing patellofemoral pain and does not support manual therapy as a stand-alone treatment.
When another form of care or further medical investigation appears more appropriate, referral may be recommended.
When Should Knee Pain Be Assessed?
Consider having your knee assessed if the pain:
Keeps returning when you run
Is limiting your usual training
Regularly appears with stairs or squatting
Is becoming more noticeable over time
Started after increasing your training
Is interfering with normal daily activities
Significant trauma, inability to bear weight, major swelling, obvious deformity, a hot or markedly swollen joint, or fever should be medically assessed promptly.
Knee Pain Assessment in Etobicoke
If pain around your kneecap is stopping you from running, exercising or moving comfortably, you don’t have to simply assume it is runner’s knee.
At OsteopathyNearMe in Etobicoke, we assess knee and other musculoskeletal complaints to better understand your symptoms and determine whether osteopathic care may be appropriate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my knee hurt around the kneecap when I run?
Patellofemoral pain is one possible cause, particularly when pain is felt around or behind the kneecap. However, several knee conditions can produce similar symptoms.
Is runner’s knee the same as patellofemoral pain?
“Runner’s knee” is commonly used to describe patellofemoral pain, but it is an informal term and should not be assumed to explain every case of running-related knee pain.
Why does my knee hurt when going downstairs?
Going downstairs places increased demands on the knee while it is bent. This commonly provokes patellofemoral symptoms, although other knee problems can cause similar discomfort.
Can you get runner’s knee without being a runner?
Yes. Patellofemoral pain can occur in people participating in many different physical activities, not only running.
Can an osteopath assess runner’s knee?
An osteopathic practitioner can assess an appropriate musculoskeletal knee complaint and determine whether osteopathic care may have a role. Manual therapy should not be presented as a stand-alone treatment for patellofemoral pain.
References
Neal BS, Lack SD, Bartholomew C, Morrissey D. Best practice guide for patellofemoral pain based on synthesis of a systematic review, the patient voice and expert clinical reasoning. British Journal of Sports Medicine.2024;58(24):1486–1495. DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2024-108110. PMID: 39401870.
Neal BS, et al. Prognosis of Patellofemoral Pain: A Systematic Review With Evidence- and Gap-Map. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy. 2025;55(10):661–670. DOI: 10.2519/jospt.2025.13491. PMID: 40996335.
Willy RW, et al. Patellofemoral Pain: Clinical Practice Guidelines. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy. 2019;49(9):CPG1–CPG95. DOI: 10.2519/jospt.2019.0302. PMID: 31475628.
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