Are you struggling with knee pain that prevents you from enjoying running?

Do you live in Tokyo and enjoy running regularly to stay fit and healthy?

Running is a great way to maintain your physical fitness, relieve stress, and enjoy an active lifestyle. However, pain around the knee can make it difficult to enjoy your daily runs or achieve your usual running distance.

Some runners experience pain on the inner side of the knee (medial knee pain), while others develop discomfort below or around the kneecap.

You may find yourself unable to run as far as you used to, or you may have to reduce your training because of persistent knee discomfort.

Why Does Knee Pain Develop During Running?

Knee pain is not always caused by a problem within the knee joint itself.

In many cases, muscle function, movement patterns, and the coordination of the hip, knee, and foot may contribute to excessive stress around the knee.

For example, several factors may be involved:

• Muscle function around the knee: Imbalances in muscle activation or excessive tension in certain muscle groups.
• Muscle condition and flexibility: Differences in tightness between the inner and outer thigh muscles.
• Hip muscle weakness: Reduced strength or control of the hip muscles, which may affect knee alignment during running.
• Core stability: Insufficient trunk and pelvic control, potentially affecting lower-limb movement.
• Foot and ankle function: Altered foot mechanics or restricted ankle mobility, which may influence loading through the knee.

Even if you have never experienced a knee injury, these functional problems may contribute to pain or discomfort during running.

Have You Experienced a Knee Injury in the Past?

Some runners continue to experience knee discomfort following a previous injury.

Others develop knee pain despite having no history of knee problems.

In either case, it is important to assess not only the knee itself but also the hip, pelvis, core muscles, foot, and ankle to identify possible contributing factors.

Comprehensive Functional Assessment at Physio Center

At Physio Center, we provide detailed functional assessments to help identify the possible causes of your knee pain.

We carefully evaluate muscle activation, muscle tightness, hip strength, core stability, lower-limb alignment, and movement coordination.

Based on the findings, we develop an individualized physiotherapy and exercise program designed to improve movement control, restore functional capacity, and help you return to running comfortably.

Our approach focuses not only on relieving symptoms but also on addressing the functional factors that may be contributing to your knee pain.

Get Back to Enjoying Your Running!

If you are an international resident or expat living in Tokyo and are struggling with knee pain during running, we would be happy to help.

Whether you have a history of knee injury or have recently developed discomfort without any obvious cause, please feel free to contact us.

Ota, our English-speaking physiotherapist at Physio Center, provides personalized assessment, physiotherapy, and exercise guidance based on your individual needs.

Let us help you work toward running comfortably and confidently again.

Physio Center – Personalized Physiotherapy for Runners in Japan

2nd Floor, Building E, The Jikei University Hospital
3-19-18 Nishi-Shimbashi, Minato-ku
Tokyo 105-0003, Japan

Email: info@physiocenter.jp
TEL: 03-6402-7755

Physical Therapist: Ota(Please ask for Ota when making your appointment)
English-speaking Physiotherapist