Quad and Knee Pain

[TomK]

1. When did the pain begin? Repeatedly – this week. I have had some intermittent pain (once or twice a month) since August.
2. What were you doing at the time? Or did the pain come on gradually over time? I was driving my car.
3. Where, anatomically, is the pain? Starts in the Upper Quad as a tightening – then it moves to a tightening and sharp pain around the kneecap (IT Band?)
4. What does the pain feel like? Sharp? Dull? Aching? Stabbing? Shooting? Starts dull (after 15 minutes of driving) then becomes sharp.
5. Is the pain constant, or intermittent, or only on certain motions? Once it starts, it is constant until I shift leg positions or stand.
6. What motions make your pain worse? Holding the leg in a steady position.
7. What, if anything, makes your pain better? Moving my leg.
8. Does your pain radiate to any other part of your body? No, the pain is isolated to my Right Leg – only appears after driving.
9. What things could you do before, that you cannot do now because of your injury? (Speed - insert smiley)
10. What is your main concern regarding the pain and its consequences? Limits my ability to drive.
11. Have you ever injured that part of your body before? If so, how? Yes, I have previously strained (but not a full tear) of both the ACL and MCL. I did have Osgood’s as a teenager. I have an imbalance with my right hip.
12. Is your pain getting worse over time? And if so, how much worse over what time period? No, but it has appeared three days this week.
13 OTHER- 49 year old, male. 185 lbs. Consistently Lift/run 6 days a week (4L & 2R) for the last two years. Today I finally ran 3.75 miles at an 8 mph pace – well off the times of my youth, but a PR for the last two years. Then I had to drive to a business appointment and the pain appeared with a vengeance. The pain doesn’t just appear on running or leg days, it first hit this week after an upper body lifting day. I would certainly appreciate any insights or thoughts. I do stretch and use a foam roller (perhaps I should move that to every day?)

[UConnJulie]

We call it "movie-goers sign" and it is indicitive of anterior knee pain.

How is your quad and rectus femoris flexibility? Can you easily get your heel to your butt with no stretch felt?

[TomK]

Yes, I can stretch and have my ankle meet my glutes -
Runner's Resource Guide: Basic Stretching Exercises — Portal - exercise 3 is an example of the stretch. I can do this with either leg. I usually feel a bit of tension/tightness after holding the position for 15 seconds. On my Left leg, I can get into this position directly. On the problem leg, my hip, quad and knee rotate out as I lift my ankle. Once it hits my glutes I can drop my knee directly under my core.
In a squat, I can't get my ankle to my glute directly. rather I have to go up on the ball of my feet as I squat, then rock back on my heels at the bottom (think of squatting down into a baseball catcher's stance). I hope that helps. Thanks for the response. Tom

[UConnJulie]

Sounds like your TFL might be acting up ... try some foam rolling to it and some stretching (to the TFL). Hold the stretches at least 30 seconds to get max benefit.