Dr. Reed Ferber, Director of Running Injury Clinic, looks to ‘unlock’ the secrets of common knee pain.

(University of Calgary:) Do your knees hurt? Have they been hurting for a long time? You’re not alone! Knee-pain is the most common ailment for people who exercise regularly, particularly  Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS.) “Unfortunately," says Dr. Reed Ferber, "People who suffer from patellofemoral pain are usually in it for the long-haul. Many people have repeated episodes of pain for 20 years or more and the condition often leads to osteoarthritis.

U of C study shows weak hips to blame for most running injuries

A landmark study from the University of Calgary's new Running Injury Clinic suggests bad knees have been getting a bum rap.

While most running injuries happen in the knees and lower legs, it turns out their root cause is almost always weak hip muscles. So runners should stop blaming faulty knees for causing them so much pain as they jog and start strengthening their hips.

The surprising news came Tuesday when Reed Ferber, who runs the clinic and is a professor with the university's faculties of kinesiology and nursing, announced the results of his study, Biomechanical Approach to Rehabilitation of Lower Extremity Musculoskeletal Injuries In Runners.

"I think this is a good news study for people who are living with chronic running pain," Ferber says. "You can do something about it."

Ferber was stunned to discover that of 284 patients who visited his clinic complaining of leg pain over a period of seven months, 92 per cent had weak hip muscles.

As part of each patient's consultation, he gave them a program to improve hip strength, along with other recommendations to speed their recovery.

The results, say Ferber, were even more astonishing: 89 per cent of the patients reported a significant improvement in pain within four to six weeks. Hip-strengthening exercises helped everyone from senior citizens who take long walks to young runners who participate in races.

Canada’s only clinic devoted specifically to running injury is moving to the University of Calgary. Dr. Reed Ferber, a professor with the Faculties of Kinesiology and Nursing, says the University was a natural fit for his clinic.

"I’m excited about coming back to the University - research has always been at the heart of my clinic and I believe that by being on-campus – right down the hall from the Human Performance Lab and the Sports Medicine Centre - I’ll be able to accelerate my research program."

Ferber’s has a simple message for injured runners: "Visit a biomechanist!" he says with a laugh. Ferber points out that in New Zealand, biomechanists are already part of the health care system, routinely assessing injury and suggesting appropriate treatment.