Woman with a white running jacket and short black running trousers runs over a footbridge towards the water

Knie Pain after Running

Pain in the back of the Knee

Possible causes and countermeasures

When pain occurs in the back of the knee or calf, speculation soon follows. After all, you wouldn’t want to stop training. At the latest when you suffer from pain in the back of the knee during running, it’s time to look for the cause.

What causes pain at the back of the knee?

Schematic representation pain in the back of the knee

The knee is a joint with complex structures. Pain in the back of the knee – and in the calf as well – can have many causes. A damaged meniscus, cartilage or joint capsule are the usual suspects. If there is also swelling at the back of the knee in addition to pain, you may be suffering from a Baker’s cyst.

Assumptions, however, won’t be of any use. Only your physician will be able to tell you what the pain at the back of your knee is all about. It is crucial to find the reason for your pain – so you can be free from pain again, return to training, and, first and foremost, prevent complications and secondary problems. Therefore: make an appointment and get a thorough examination!

The more accurate the information you provide, the more effectively your physician will be able to help you. It will therefore be useful if you answer the following questions in advance:

When did the pain occur for the first time?
In which situations does the pain occur?
What exactly does the pain feel like?
Have you previously had knee problems?
How intensively do you exercise?
Have you ever tried to do something about the pain?
If so, what did you do, and was it successful?

Depending on the diagnosis, your physician should then be able to recommend suitable treatment..

Complete view of the Rivera colored Knee Sleeves on a stylized gray leg

Back of the knee pain? Knee Sleeve!

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What to do about pain in the back of the knee?

Until your medical consultation or if the pain is mild, heat treatment or cooling are your first ports of call. But which of these? If your problems have been caused by inflammation, cooling will help. Use a cold pack or ice and wrap it in a towel. This will protect your tissue from being damaged. Don’t cool your knee for too long at a time, 20 minutes is the maximum.

If, on the other hand, muscle problems are causing the pain, then heat will usually be the right choice. The same applies here as well: not too hot and not for too long. If you’re not sure whether heat or cooling is better, listen carefully to your body – if in doubt, do not experiment!

For as long as you’re not sure what is causing the pain at the back of your knee and/or your calf, you should be careful with your knee and rest it. If the pain is severe, your obvious course of action is to take a break from your running training for the time being. If the pain is mild, you can carefully try to go running again. But start gently and keep an eye on how your knee feels.

Support and compression ensure increased protection

Anna Hahner runs with her Sports Compression Knee Support via a jetty towards the lake

If your physician has excluded tissue damage and you want to train gently despite some discomfort, additional support may help. By exerting moderate compression, the Compression Knee Support, a knee sleeve, improves joint perception and muscle activation. This will give you a confident feeling when running and helps to prevent inappropriate mechanical stress.

Get support for your knees

Do you want to prevent inappropriate mechanical stress and push your performance at the same time? The Bauerfeind Sports Compression Knee Support can help. Find out here how it works.

Find out how exactly here

Get more out of your training! The Bauerfeind Sports Compression Knee Support has been developed specifically for your sport. Using moderate compression, it provides stability in your knee. Get your Compression Knee Support now!

Does your knee pain manifest in other ways?

Schematic representation of patella tip syndrome

Patellar Tendonitis

Pain in the front or below the knee often indicates patellar tendinitis. Learn more about how it develops and what you should keep in mind when running.

Learn more

Schematic representation pes-Anerinus syndrome

Pes Anserine Bursitis

WWhen runners have pain in the inner tibial plateau, the diagnosis is often pes anserinus syndrome. Learn more about causes, symptoms and treatment here.

Learn more

Schematic representation of the aching area with a knee

Runner's Knee

Runner's knee is one of the most common complaints among runners. Here you can find out everything you need to know about symptoms, causes and treatment.

Learn more

Didn't find what you were looking for here? Does your knee pain manifest itself in other ways or is it perhaps not caused by sport? Then find out about other possible causes from our Bauerfeind Medical colleagues in the knee pain section!

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