Nine runners with varied experience but similar running-gaitforms presented with the insidious and progressive onset ofmedial knee pain. Functional tightness of the semimembranosus(SM) tendon appeared to be a concomitant factor in the painpresentation of these patients. When evaluating atraumaticmedial knee pain in runners, clinicians must consider bonestress injuries and atypical conditions. A functionally tight SMmay induce pain and desmopathy of the medial collateralligament through direct fiber entanglement or cause entrapmentof infrapatellar branches of the saphenous nerve or both.Relieving SM tension resulted in short-term pain reduction whileeliminating the overstride during the running gait over the longterm appeared to prevent recurrence.
© Copyright 2020 Journal of Athletic Training. National Athletic Trainers' Association. All rights reserved.