CHANDROMALACIA Patella, that's what is wrong with my knees.

Or, in more understandable terms, my kneecap can't always get back into its proper place.

And for all you women out there, it is a very common problem among the female keep fitters.

I visited Siobhan O'Donovan, a certified athletic trainer and a master of science in health/sports injury and prevention at Meridian Sports at Bolton Arena.

Since embarking on my extra fitness routines I have found my knees had become quite painful and started to "click" whenever I went downstairs.

I was concerned that my days at the gym were numbered and my new-found healthy lifestyle was coming to a premature end.

"Not at all," said Siobhan who, together with partner, Mat Jevons, runs Meridian Sports Medicine and Sports Centres.

"All it needs is for me to pinpoint the problem and then we can get to work resolving it."

She set out by asking me about my health and activity in general. I told her I'd had slight problems with my right knee for some years but since my increase in gym use, both knees seemed to be on the dodgy side.

Siobhan then asked me to stand in front of a full-length mirror while she looked at my feet and the way I stood.

"Your feet do lean in slightly when you stand," she reported, "but it's not a big problem so I wouldn't need to call in a podiatric.

"What we would do for you is perhaps some laser treatment on your knees and then give you some muscle building exercises to do here and at home.

"We would also show you what equipment not to use in the gym so it doesn't mean that you will have to stop training."

Interestingly, Siobhan said that my problem was common in women who train regularly.

"It's the way we're built," she explained, "our legs are curved -- not up and down like a man's -- so the kneecap has to curve to fit back into the socket."

But there is treatment available and I can carry on with my training (ugh) so the future looks fit and healthy for me.