knee pain/injury

Question
Hi:
I am a 29 year old female runner.  I enjoy running and have participated in several races, usually 10km runs.  Lately, I have developed pain in my knee when I run.  It strikes in my left knee whenever I land on it.  It is like a sharp annoying pain on the outer/bottom portion of my knee.  I don't get it when I walk or use the eliptic machine, just when I run.  Someone told me it could be the IT band? Not sure if that is the case.  Can you offer any suggestions about what it might be and how it could be prevented or treated?
Thanks,
June

Answer
Hi June
First, injuries come on slowly so trace back a couple of weeks and see what you might of done or changed in your training.You will then have your answer.I don't think it is the It band or chondromalacia.I think it is probably one of the supporting ligaments that surround the knee joint that provides stability Not knowing any thing about your height weight or running back ground or current training it is hard to say what might caused it.I would recomend you ride an exercise bike for a week or two to develop some quad strength and to track your knee and then test the waters and see if that helps.I'm sure you will see a differience.You can go to my previously answered questions on my site and see many knee story questions with answers and prescriptions.This is with out question the one i get asked about the most.You can follow the prescriptions.There is also testimonials to the results.Get in touch if you have any other questions June.

All the best

John