Book Online
X

RHP Physiotherapy Brisbane

RHP Physiotherapy Brisbane is your trusted physiotherapy provider.

Conatct Us

Welcome to RHP Physiotherapy

From Knee Pain to Fun Runs: A Patient Story

  • Home  
  • From Knee Pain to Fun Runs: A Patient Story
By :

From Knee Pain to Fun Runs: A Patient Story

When Lisa (not her real name), a 47-year-old mum of two, came to see us, she was frustrated. For years she had wanted to run regularly. Not to chase medals, just to enjoy the freedom of jogging midweek or lining up for a parkrun on the weekend. Every time she tried, her knee pain got in the way.

This is a patient story about how physiotherapy for a Brisbane runner with knee pain made a real difference for not only now, but long into the future.

The Challenge: Overcoming Chronic Knee Pain

Her pain came from patellofemoral osteoarthritis, a common problem that affects the front of the knee. It is more common in women over 40 and particularly if there has been some significant injury in the past.

Lisa had already seen both a physio and an exercise physiologist, and had been given some basic strengthening work, but the pain didn’t shift. At best she could manage a 3 km run during the week and occasionally squeeze in a 5 km parkrun. Both would leave her sore for days afterwards.

A Comprehensive Clinical Assessment

When Lisa arrived, we took the time to really understand what was going on. That meant more than just looking at her knee pain. Our assessment process included:

  • Running Assessment: Watching her gait in real time to identify subtle movement patterns that only show up under load.
  • Dynamometry Testing: Pinpointing specific strength deficits in her hips and quads.
  • Force Plate Analysis: Checking how she loaded each leg during squats and measuring total leg strength.
  • Manual Screening: Identifying muscle tightness and high tone in her hips and lumbar spine.

After some simple massage and trigger point release, Lisa noticed her knee felt better straight away when she went for a jog in the clinic. That little breakthrough was important. It gave her confidence that her knee could improve.

Building Strength and Confidence

Over the following weeks, we built a plan that combined:

  • Progressive strengthening for her hips and quads.
  • Managing muscle tightness with hands-on and self-applied techniques.
  • Trialling different taping options to support the knee in the early stages.
  • Step-by-step changes to her running technique for improved efficiency.

Each piece worked together and, just as importantly, Lisa could feel the changes happening. These changes were accompanied by a more thorough understanding of what osteoarthritis of the knee is—understanding the issue was pivotal in learning how to overcome the symptoms!

In a few short months, Lisa’s story looked very different. Instead of hobbling through a parkrun and paying for it with days of soreness, she was comfortably running 5 to 8 km three times a week. She even ticked off a big goal and completed the Bridge to Brisbane without a hitch.

For Lisa, running was never about chasing times. It gave her freedom, an outlet away from family and work, and a way to manage stress. Most of all, it showed her that knee osteoarthritis doesn’t have to be the end of running. In fact, it might even help protect her future health!

With the right assessment, treatment, and guidance, it is possible to get back to the things you love. At RHP Physiotherapy in Kelvin Grove, we regularly help runners with knee pain get back on their feet.

Leave A Comment

Go to Top