The knee is the most common area of injury in runners. This article reviewed the current literature for recommendations for physiotherapy interventions in Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS), Patellar tendinopathy (PT), and Iliotibial band friction syndrome (ITBFS).
PFPS is often thought to be due to aberrant tracking of the patella, and several factors such as biomechanical alignment, decreased flexibility and muscle weakness and imbalance may contribute to this injury. ITBFS on the other hand is caused by compression of the distal iliotibial band (ITB) on the lateral knee. The increased pressure leads to irritation and inflammation of blood vessels and nerves on the lateral epicondyle of the knee. PT has several phases: the initial phase is an acute overload, which when present over a prolonged period causes tendon thickening and inflammation, followed by tendon tissue breakdown and chronicity.