Is Your Popliteus Causing Knee Pain While Running? 👉 Runner's knee, also known as patellofemoral pain syndrome, is a common overuse injury that causes pain around the kneecap. The pain is typically described as a dull, aching pain that is worsened with activities that involve knee bending, such as running, cycling, or jumping. 👉 The popliteus muscle may play a role in runner's knee as it stabilizes the knee joint and prevents excessive rotation of the shin bone during weight-bearing activities