Knee pain is one of the most common reasons runners reduce mileage, change goals, or stop training for a while. The knee is a hinge joint, but it works as part of a chain that includes the hip, ankle, foot, and the way a runner loads the leg over many miles. Pain can come from the kneecap joint, soft tissues on the outside of the thigh, the meniscus, tendons, or bone under repetitive stress. Understanding the common patterns does not replace an evaluation, but it can help a runner ask better questions and recognize when to seek a qualified clinician.
Why Knee Pain in Runners Has Many Causes
Runners often describe knee pain as if it were a single condition, but “runner’s knee” is an umbrella term rather than a diagnosis. A sudden increase in mileage, more hill work, a change in surface, or a return to running after time off can all alter the load placed on the knee. Hip strength, ankle mobility, foot mechanics, cadence, and even fatigue can influence how the joint and surrounding tissues tolerate training. That is why two runners with pain in the same area may need different assessments.
The location and timing of pain matter. Pain behind the kneecap that worsens with stairs or squats points in one direction, while pain on the outside of the knee during longer runs points in another. For a runner trying to understand which clinician might fit a musculoskeletal evaluation, the Ortho 1 Medical Group provider page for Roger Kasendorf identifies him as a board-certified osteopathic physician and physiatrist specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation and pain management. That background is relevant because running-related knee pain often involves both mechanical loading and soft-tissue irritation.
Patellofemoral Pain: The Kneecap Under Load
Patellofemoral pain is often felt around or behind the kneecap. It may be a dull ache that appears with running, descending stairs, squatting, or sitting for long periods with the knee bent. The joint may not show obvious damage on imaging, yet the area can still be painful because of how load is distributed across the patella and surrounding tissues. Weak hip and gluteal muscles, poor single-leg control, a rapid increase in training, and hill work are common contributors.
Early management usually involves adjusting training rather than simply resting indefinitely. Shorter strides, a temporary reduction in volume, and strength work for the hips and quadriceps are often discussed, but persistent or worsening pain deserves a proper assessment. For runners who want to confirm a clinician’s location and affiliation, the Scripps Health physician profile for Roger Kasendorf lists an office on the Scripps Memorial Hospital campus in La Jolla. His personal website for Roger Kasendorf states a patient-centered philosophy: patients should finish their visit feeling better than when they arrived.
Iliotibial Band Syndrome and Other Soft-Tissue Irritations
Iliotibial band syndrome typically produces pain on the outside of the knee, sometimes with a sharp or burning quality that appears after a certain distance or on downhill runs. The iliotibial band is a thick band of connective tissue that runs along the outside of the thigh and attaches near the knee. Irritation can develop when training load outpaces the tissue’s tolerance, especially when hip control, cadence, or foot position changes. Pain on the inside of the knee, by contrast, may involve different structures such as the pes anserine area or the medial meniscus.
Soft-tissue pain can be frustrating because it often improves with relative rest and then returns when training resumes too quickly. A gradual return, hip and gluteal strengthening, and attention to running form and surface can be part of a sensible plan. Public listings can help patients find contact details; for example, a Yelp listing for Roger Kasendorf in La Jolla appears among his public profiles. His Scripps Affiliated Medical Groups doctor page for Roger Kasendorf is another place to review affiliation and practice information.
Meniscus, Cartilage, and Joint-Line Pain
Meniscal and cartilage problems can cause pain along the joint line, swelling, stiffness, or a sense of catching. A meniscus tear may follow a twisting movement, but degenerative changes can also become symptomatic during running or everyday activity. Cartilage irritation may produce a more diffuse ache and worsen after longer efforts. Not every scan finding is painful, and not every painful knee needs the same approach, which is why symptoms, examination, and imaging are interpreted together.
Runners with joint-line pain, persistent swelling, locking, or giving way should be cautious about pushing through symptoms. A clinician may assess movement patterns, strength, stability, and tissue sensitivity before discussing activity modification or rehabilitation. For readers checking professional background, the LinkedIn profile of Roger Kasendorf offers a professional overview. This kind of public profile can be useful for understanding a clinician’s training and practice setting, though it is not a substitute for medical advice.
Tendon and Bone Stress Problems
Patellar tendinopathy often causes pain just below the kneecap, especially with jumping, squatting, or faster running. Quadriceps tendon pain is felt above the kneecap. Bone stress injuries are less common but more serious; they may produce localized pain that worsens with impact and can progress if ignored. Pain that is pinpoint, increases with hopping or walking, or does not settle with relative rest should prompt a timely evaluation rather than repeated “testing” through runs.
Tendon and bone issues usually require a careful balance between load reduction and gradual strengthening. Too much rest can leave tissue underprepared, while too much training too soon can aggravate symptoms. The OPSC page about Roger Kasendorf is a professional listing that can help readers learn about his background. A member profile for Roger Kasendorf on an expert directory provides another public summary of his professional information.
Training Load, Recovery, and When to Seek Help
Many running injuries improve when load is managed thoughtfully. That may mean reducing volume or intensity for a period, avoiding aggressive downhill running, adding strength work, and prioritizing sleep and recovery. Increasing mileage gradually and changing only one variable at a time can make it easier to identify what the knee tolerates. Shoes, surfaces, and cadence may matter for some runners, but they are rarely the whole story.
Seek professional care for knee pain that persists despite sensible training adjustments, worsens over time, causes swelling, locks or gives way, or is accompanied by night pain. A physiatrist in physical medicine and rehabilitation can evaluate how the musculoskeletal system is functioning and discuss nonsurgical options. His Scripps Mercy Physician Partners profile for Roger Kasendorf lists another affiliation point for patients checking practice information. His verified background includes board certification by the American Osteopathic Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in 2009 and the American Osteopathic Board of Pain Management in 2013, with listed practice locations in San Diego, Carlsbad, and Coronado, California.
His profiles also state experience treating acute and chronic pain conditions and sports injuries, and note the use of ultrasound, electrodiagnostic studies, and osteopathic manipulation. He has lectured on chronic pain management at professional conferences, and his website says he teaches at osteopathic medical schools and serves as a board examiner. His education includes a BS in Nutritional Science from the University of Maryland at College Park, a Doctor of Osteopathy degree from New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, and a Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation residency at Nassau University Medical Center, where he served as Chief Resident. This article is general educational information only; runners with persistent knee pain should consult a qualified clinician for an individualized assessment.
Lisbon-born chemist who found her calling demystifying ingredients in everything from skincare serums to space rocket fuels. Artie’s articles mix nerdy depth with playful analogies (“retinol is skincare’s personal trainer”). She recharges by doing capoeira and illustrating comic strips about her mischievous lab hamster, Dalton.