I Have Runner’s Knee and Running Makes My Knee Click

If your knee clicks while you are running, repeated bending around the kneecap can make the clicking more noticeable when runner’s knee is already irritating the area.

When you have runner’s knee, the clicking may show up during the same part of your stride over and over again. You may hear or feel a click as your knee bends to absorb your weight and then straightens again, especially when you are running continuously.

Runner’s knee commonly involves the area around or behind the kneecap, where the patella moves as your knee bends and straightens. When that area is irritated, the movement of the kneecap may feel less comfortable, and the repeated motion of running can make the clicking more noticeable.

The Kneecap Moves With Every Running Stride

Repeated bending and straightening keeps the kneecap moving throughout your run.

Each running stride requires your knee to bend and straighten while the quadriceps and other muscles around the knee control the movement. If the area around the kneecap is irritated, that repeated motion can make the clicking or popping stand out more with each stride.

The Clicking Becomes More Noticeable As You Run

Continuous running can make the knee feel less comfortable as the activity goes on.

As you keep taking the same repeated strides, the muscles around your knee have to continue working without much interruption. As fatigue builds, you may become more aware of clicking that was barely noticeable during the first few minutes, particularly if your knee is already painful or irritated.

Why Your Knee Keeps Clicking During Running

Your knee has a hard time healing when blood flow and circulation are limited.

Tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissues naturally receive less blood supply than many other parts of the body. Because of this, they often take longer to heal after repeated stress or injury, leaving you more vulnerable to lingering pain and a cycle of reinjury.

When circulation through the area remains limited, injured tissues have a harder time receiving the vital oxygen and nutrients they need to repair and heal. This can leave your knee feeling stiff, tight, weak, or painful during everyday movement and activity.

What Can Help Your Knee Feel Better

Your knee starts feeling better when blood flow and circulation improve.

Chinese herbs have been used for centuries to promote healthy blood flow and circulation. Their medicinal properties help break up stagnant blood and fluids that remain trapped around injured tissues, interfering with circulation. As circulation improves, blood flows more freely through the area, allowing those tissues to receive the oxygen and nutrients they need to heal properly.

Topical herbal remedies made with these Chinese herbs can help relieve pain while improving blood flow and circulation to injured tissues. The right product depends on your symptoms and whether you're in the acute or chronic stage of recovery.

If you have pain, swelling, inflammation, or bruising, Acute Sinew Liniment helps relieve these symptoms by increasing circulation and dispersing stagnant blood and fluids around the injured area to speed recovery. During the acute stage of healing, getting circulation moving early allows injured tissues to receive the fresh blood, oxygen, and nutrients they need to repair and heal.

If your injured area is especially swollen, red, or warm to the touch after a recent injury or flare-up, Sinew Herbal Ice is also used to reduce swelling and inflammation while restoring normal circulation so you can quickly regain range of motion. While traditional ice is commonly used to reduce swelling, Sinew Herbal Ice acts as an ice alternative to reduce swelling and inflammation while also dispersing accumulated blood and fluids to speed the healing process.

If you no longer have swelling or inflammation, but still have pain, stiffness, weakness, or sensitivity in cold and damp weather, Chronic Sinew Liniment helps relieve these symptoms by strongly stimulating circulation and increasing blood supply to injured tendons and ligaments to promote their healing. This is especially important because tendons and ligaments naturally receive less blood supply, which is why chronic injuries can take longer to heal.

If you have residual pain and stiffness, or the area becomes more painful in cold weather, Sinew Injury Poultice is also used to significantly stimulate circulation to injured tendons and ligaments to further promote their healing. By strongly increasing circulation, it counteracts the reduced blood flow caused by cold weather that commonly aggravates chronic tendon and ligament injuries.

If you exercise, play sports, or do other strenuous activities, Sinew Sports Massage Oil warms and stimulates muscles for exertion and relieves muscle tightness and soreness after activity. Warming and preparing your muscles before activity can improve flexibility, enhance performance, and reduce the risk of injury.

Frequently Asked Questions

You may also find these commonly asked questions helpful.

Why Does My Knee Click When I Run With Runner’s Knee?

Runner’s knee can irritate the area around the kneecap, making clicking or popping more noticeable as your knee repeatedly bends and straightens while running.

Why Does My Knee Click More The Longer I Run?

Repeated strides can make the muscles around your knee more fatigued, which may make clicking more noticeable as your run continues.

Is Knee Clicking Normal With Runner’s Knee?

Clicking can occur with runner’s knee, especially when it happens alongside pain or irritation around the kneecap.

Why Does My Knee Click But Not Hurt When I Run?

Clicking without pain can occur for several reasons and does not necessarily mean your knee is being injured during each stride.

Should I Keep Running If My Knee Clicks With Runner’s Knee?

If clicking is accompanied by pain, swelling, locking, or worsening symptoms, reducing activity and having your knee evaluated is appropriate.

The information provided here is intended to help you better understand your symptoms and recovery, but it is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Persistent, severe, or worsening symptoms should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional.