Hannah Li, a sophomore at Northeastern University, has always been passionate about running. During her high school years, she was a dedicated varsity athlete, competing in cross country and track events such as the 5k, 800m, 1 mile, and 2 mile.
In May 2022, towards the end of her junior year track season, Hannah began experiencing pain in her left knee, a condition commonly known as runner’s knee. This injury, characterized by persistent stress, gradually worsened, causing her knee to ache more intensely after practices and meets. She explains, “my knee would ache more and more after practices and meets, up to the point where I was forced to take a break from running because I was limping and the pain became unbearable.”
Initially, Hannah believed the pain was a temporary stress injury due to an intensive season. However, even after a two-week break from running, the symptoms persisted, leading to increased worry and stress. With her final high school cross country season approaching, and having been elected as one of the team captains, the timing couldn’t have been worse.
Hannah decided to seek medical advice from her pediatrician and an orthopedic doctor at Boston Children’s Hospital. Despite undergoing x-rays, she did not receive an official diagnosis for her runner’s knee. The orthopedic doctor explained that her outer thigh muscles (Vastus lateralis) were significantly stronger than her inner thigh muscles, causing an imbalance that pulled her kneecap and made her prone to injuries like runner’s knee.
To address this, Hannah was given a series of exercises to strengthen her inner thigh muscles, including reverse clamshells, side-lying leg lifts, and hamstring bridges. She was advised to perform these exercises twice a week.
Hannah diligently followed the prescribed exercises, and after about 1.5 months, she was able to start running again without pain. The journey was not easy, with the most challenging aspect being the frustration of not knowing what was wrong with her knee and missing out on summer practices with her team.
Throughout her recovery, Hannah’s family provided unwavering support. Her parents played a crucial role in helping her stay motivated and focused on her recovery. Her determination to have a successful final cross country season also fueled her perseverance.
Hannah’s experience with runner’s knee taught her the importance of understanding the root cause of an injury rather than dismissing it as temporary. She learned the value of consistency in performing recovery exercises and the significance of patience and clear-headedness in the face of adversity.
Her advice to other young athletes is to stay patient, avoid actions that could worsen an injury, and focus on what can be done to aid recovery. Eating nutritious foods and maintaining a balanced approach to training and recovery are also crucial. As she continued her final cross country season, Hannah made sure to keep up with her inner thigh exercises to ensure her leg muscles remained evenly strong. Now, Hannah can pursue all her athletic endeavors without the worry of her knee injury affecting her performance and overall health.