Runner's Knee: Why the Source Is Usually the Hip
Fzt. Bilal Kara · 2 Ağustos 2026 · 1 min read
Anterior knee pain known as patellofemoral pain syndrome — runner's knee — is one of the most common running injuries, and its source usually isn't the knee joint itself.
The hip-knee connection
If the hip's external rotator and abductor muscles are weak, the thigh bone rotates inward during running and the path the kneecap tracks is disrupted — leading to repeated friction and pain.
The effect of step rate
Slightly increasing steps per minute (cadence) can noticeably ease pain by reducing the impact force landing on the knee with each step.
Load management
Sudden increases in weekly running distance are the most common trigger for runner's knee; a gradual increase carries a preventive effect on its own.
What the programme targets
Hip strength, running-technique analysis and a gradual increase in distance are the three core components of a lasting fix for runner's knee.
Fzt. Bilal Kara carries out an assessment for runner's knee in Bursa Nilüfer focused on hip strength and running technique. You can book an appointment.
