Knee · Sacramento, CA
Runner’s knee: find the cause, fix the pattern.
Runner’s knee — patellofemoral pain — is pain around or behind the kneecap that flares with running, stairs, squatting, or sitting. Dr. Jonathan D. Hughes, fellowship-trained knee specialist and Sacramento Kings team physician, helps Sacramento runners and active adults get an accurate diagnosis and a plan that holds up.
Patellofemoral pain care
What Dr. Hughes treats.
- Accurate diagnosis first: patellofemoral pain, patellar instability, cartilage wear, and tendinopathy can all masquerade as “runner’s knee”; a focused exam sorts them out, with imaging when it will change the plan.
- Rehabilitation that targets the cause: structured hip and quadriceps strengthening — the best-supported treatment for patellofemoral pain — alongside movement retraining.
- Training modification, not just rest: practical running-load adjustments and gait considerations so most runners can keep running while they recover.
- Care for the exceptions: when instability, malalignment, or cartilage lesions are the true driver, Dr. Hughes offers the full range of patellofemoral procedures, including MPFL reconstruction and tibial tubercle osteotomy.
What to expect
From evaluation to return.
- A real explanation: you’ll leave knowing what is actually causing the pain and why the plan targets it.
- A progressive program: graduated strengthening and load progression with clear milestones, coordinated with your physical therapist.
- Return-to-running plan: structured mileage progression guided by symptom response.
- Surgical honesty: the great majority of runner’s knee resolves without surgery; if a structural problem warrants an operation, you’ll hear the evidence for and against.
Recovery, documented
Rehabilitation protocols you can download.
Dr. Hughes publishes his post-operative protocols so patients and physical therapists can follow the same criteria-based plan used for elite athletes. Protocols related to this area of care:
Common questions
Common questions, answered.
Who treats runner's knee in Sacramento?
Dr. Jonathan D. Hughes, MD, PhD, treats runner’s knee (patellofemoral pain) in Sacramento, California through Sutter Health. He is a fellowship-trained knee specialist and team physician for the Sacramento Kings and Sacramento State Athletics.
Can I keep running with runner's knee?
Often, yes — with modified volume and intensity guided by pain-monitoring rules. Complete rest is rarely the answer; the goal is calming symptoms while building the strength and capacity that prevent recurrence.
Does runner's knee ever need surgery?
Uncommonly. Surgery is reserved for structural problems such as recurrent patellar instability or significant cartilage lesions that fail non-operative care. Most cases resolve with a well-designed strengthening and load-management program.
Sacramento, California
Start with an evaluation.
Dr. Hughes sees patients through Sutter Health in Sacramento. Whether you have imaging in hand or just a joint that won’t cooperate, a consultation is the first step.
Book a consultation