left outer knee sore

[john1]

I start 32 weeks recruit training for the Royal Marines in July and I need to be injury free!
For the last 6 months I have been training and the last 6 weeks intensley 5 days a week, at the start of the intensive training (running mostly) I felt soreness on the left side of my left knee which resulted in restriction of movement.

It is espesially sore when walking down stairs but not so bad walking upstairs. It only hurts after I run but after a nights sleep its good enough to run the next day but I had an extra long extra fast run on Sunday and now I'm struggling to even get up the stairs.

Today I swam and it was fine but thismorning before the swim it was very sore so I think the injury is effected by load and also by temperature and incline, when it is cold it is 10x worse then when it is hot.

I have been wearing a knee support for the last 2 weeks and that has helped it, does anyone know what this possibly is, if it's serious or not and if I should see a physio?

Thanks.

[Heidi]

Hi
My intial instinct is IT band syndrome:

http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/front/knee/irunnersknee.html

This is caused by the IT band rubbing on the bone on the outside of the knee. Typical symptoms include pain on downhill/stairs and when you're cold (and so tight!). This condition is treatable with both manual therapy and exercise rehabilitation. You can find out more on the page above.