how long does runner's knee last

Runner’s knee can last anywhere from a few weeks to months. It depends on what is causing the pain in the knee and whether you have managed to catch the symptoms early.

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Runners knee, or known as patellofemoral pain syndrome, in the physiotherapy world is pain that can be caused by many things including tight muscles like hamstrings, quadriceps or altered joint mechanics of the knee, or even changes in cartilage thickness. The causes are still debated and poorly understood.

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Runner’s knee may only last a few weeks if you catch the symptoms when they are just a slight niggle, you back off your running volume for 3-4 weeks and hop on a bike instead, then slowly build your running volume again over a 2–4-week period. This should settle the knee pain down.

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If you have been doing significant running volume and had symptoms of runner’s knee for a while, trying to run through the pain, then the likelihood is that your symptoms may last substantially longer. Months to even years are not uncommon in some cases.