Knee Pain In Runners
Knee pain in runners is probably the most common of all running injuries. And, we all have heard from our non-running friends that our knees are going to give out on us one of these days.
Well, that isn't necessarily true. While a knee injury will probably happen to you sometime during your running life - it can be easily taken care of and doesn't mean that you have to stop running.
The most common knee pain in runners is Runner's Knee which is discomfort around or behind the knee cap. This pain is usually the worst as you run downhill. You also may have pain as you walk downstairs or if you sit for awhile.
Good news is that Runner's Knee is easily to take care of. And, believe it or not, the culprit is not your knee. It's weakness in your thighs. Your thighs are what keeps your kneecap where it is supposed to be. Running strengthens the back of your thighs (your hamstrings), but not the front (your quads). This imbalance can cause your kneecap to get out of whack. (How's that for technical language?)
Runner's knee can also be aggravated by wearing a shoe that does not have enough stability built in and if you have sharply increased your weekly mileage.
So, if you think that this applies to you - there are some things that you can easily do to possibly take are of your problem. First of all, when you are finished with your run - you need to ice for knee for about 15 minutes. You don't need to go out and buy a fancy ice pack - just put some ice in a washcloth or towel and apply to your knee. Also, taking ibuprofen will help the pain and swelling if you have any.
Also, make sure that you are wearing the correct shoes - and make sure that you are not putting too many miles on a pair. This will cause the stability to break down. A good rule of thumb is to limit your mileage to 300-500 miles for your shoes.
Lastly, do some strengthening exercises. If you have access to a weight bench, so some leg lifts to get those thighs strengthened. If you don't have a weight bench, get some leg weights. You can sit and lift your legs with those.
Knee pain is common for runners - but it doesn't need to mean the end of your running life. Just listen to your body - back off the miles while your treating your knees.
About the Author
As you can see, taking care of your knees is important to your success as a runner. Visit http://runninginjurytips.com and download my free report for helping you to stay injury free. You can also sign up for my Free weekly newsletter at http://RunnerForLife.com.
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