Running is a popular sport, but it can lead to many painful health problems, including
When you run, your feet strike the ground with a force equivalent to about 2.5 times your body weight. For example, if you weigh 200 pounds, the peak force will be about 500 pounds. This extreme force is at the root of many running injuries as it puts strain on your tissues, including the tissues that make up your knee joint.
Your patella is your knee bone, and
What are the signs of
The main sign of
You may also hear a crackling sound coming from your knee during movement. The knee may also become stiff or locked; this occurs because your bones directly touch, without a protective layer of cartilage in between.
How is it treated?
Cartilage doesn't grow back, so once it's been worn away, it's gone.
Cartilage transplantation is exactly what it sounds like: cartilage will be taken from another part of your body, or from a donor, and attached to the back of your patella. This is a major surgery, but studies have reported that 87% of patients have good-to-excellent results.
After your surgery, you'll need to avoid putting weight on the affected leg for two weeks. You'll need to use crutches during this time. After two weeks, partial weight bearing can begin, and you'll get a walking cast. After this healing period, you'll need to go to physiotherapy to regain strength and flexibility in your knee.If your knee is sore, crackling, or locking, you may have