ProHealth and my Running Knee Problems

I visited ProHealth Sports and Spinal Physiotherapy Center last month to have my knees checked. My running knee problems would bother me during long runs. So when I am training for a marathon, my knees becomes a big concern. It does affect my training and my performance on race day.

ProHealth Sports and Spinal Physiotherapy Center is located at 28 Floor, Centuria Medical Makati, Century City, Kalayaan Avenue in Makati City.

I called up for an appointment and Marvin Sevilla was assigned to look at my running knee problems.

The first part of the session is taking a history of the pain. I explain when the pain started, how the pain feels like, where the pain exactly is, and others. Then, he started asking me to do some movements like squats and some leg raises. Nothing wrong there he says.

I was asked to lie down and he took hold of my knees. Marvin started kneading through the skin and go as deep as he can. I was worried he won’t detect the problem since the pain is not consistent. It comes and goes. In fact, I came to the clinic without any pain since I haven’t had a run for about a week already. I was resting after running a marathon a week before.

But I was surprised that he was able to locate the pain and gave his diagnosis. According to Marvin, I have an inflamed bursa. By definition, “Bursae are thin, lubricated cushions located at points of friction between a bone and the surrounding soft tissue, such as skin, muscles, ligaments and tendons. A bursa lies between a bone and opposing surface (e.g. skin) like a tiny water balloon with only a few drops of fluid in it, wedged between two surfaces.”

The way I understand it, the bursa acts like a cushioning and lubricant.  And due to repetitive knee movements, the bursa becomes inflamed. This explains why I only feel the pain during long runs and not during the short runs.

Wow! Marvin’s diagnosis makes a lot of sense. In fact, he kept on kneading the inflamed part and was able to ease out the pain. It felt good.

After the diagnosis, Marvin provided me with valuable tips to lessen or prevent pain on my knees. I really appreciate the tips since they were very detailed. It felt honest and complete.

First, he gave me instructions to stretch before the run including which muscles to stretch and how to strecth them properly.

Second, he advised me to apply tape on my knees. I havent done taping yet so I had a lot of questions with this one.

He gave instructions on where to tape, how to tape and even the brands he recommends.

Finally, when the knee pain strikes, he adviced me to apply ice on my knees. It something I already do but he says it is even better to apply it every after a run even when there is no pain. Since my bursa has been inflammed, applying ice will help relieve the pain or even delay it.

Those were really very helpful advice for my running knee problems. I have been enduring the pain for more than two years already. Finally I have some answers and I am looking forward to pain-free runs as I prepare for my next marathon.

But before I left, Marvin gave me some therapy massage. It was painful yet a big relief for my muscles. I don’t normally get a massage after a marathon. But after this session, I am convinced with the recovery benefits of a good massage after a strenuous activity like running a 42K.

I was really satisfied with my session at ProHealth. It was like an all-in-one package. I got a consultation and diagnosis, plenty of advice and tips, and a recovery massage. All in just one hour. The best one hour I have spent for a long time.

Below is the video highlights of my visit at ProHealth.

ProHealth is located at located at 28 Floor, Centuria Medical Makati, Century City, Kalayaan Avenue in Makati City. You can also visit them in their website, www.sportsandspinal.ph and in ProHealth Facebook Page.

ProHealth also provides manual therapy, sports physiotherapy, spinal manipulation, post-operative rehabilitation, endurance sports injuries, sports physiotherapy & sports medicine management and a lot more.  Visit www.sportsandspinal.ph for more information.