Would you like to learn how to prevent knee pain when running
Then you have came to the right place.
Whether you’re training to lose weight or for your very first marathon, running is an awesome way to get in shape and maintain good health.
It’s good for your waistline, your heart, and even your brain.
At the same time, running comes with a certain degree of injury risk.
The high impact repetitive nature of the sport can place a lot of stress on your joints, especially the knees.
As a matter of fact, surveys show that up to 70 percent of runners may experience knee issues at a point.
That’s why for some people running is synonymous with knee pain.
This is especially the case if you drastically increase your running mileage too quickly, train with bad form, wear the wrong shoes, or have muscle imbalances—common training blunders among all runners.
But is that enough reason to stop running altogether?
Of course: NO!
Knee Pain in Runners – The Definition
There are many overuse injuries that strike the knee joint.
One of the most common is known as runners knee, or patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS).
The condition is also pretty common among those who any sports that involve repeated stress to the knee joint.
So what is all about?
Runners’ knee is all the catch term used to refer to pain in the kneecap.
The condition causes an achy, dull pain at the front of the knee and around the kneecap.
It’s widespread among runners, basketball players, cyclists, and those who participate in sports involving jumping.
Symptoms may include a dull ache or sharp pain, grinding or clicking on or around the patella, and chronic stiffness.
Classic treatment options include cold therapy, anti-inflammatory meds, and stretching.
Knee pain, especially runners knee, is sometimes caused (and often made worse) by tightness in the muscles and tendons that connects to the knees, especially the quads, calves, hamstrings, glutes, and hips.
That’s why when it comes to soothing and preventing knee issues in runners, stretching can help.
Don’t take my word for it—research backs this up.
A study published in American Family Physicians reported that increase strength and flexibility in the quad muscles is more effective than the routine use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or knee braces for soothing and preventing pain.
How to Prevent Knee Pain when Running
Here is the little secret.
All you got to do is protect your knees from the get-go by taking some of the following injury prevention measures to protect your knees while running.
Prevent Knee Pain When Running – 1. Wear The Right Shoes
The foot is a very complex part of the human anatomy.
It’s made up of 19 muscles, 26 bones, 107 ligaments, and 33 joints—and these take the brunt of a foot strike when running.
Since running is a high impact sport that places a great deal of stress on the knees, wearing the right trainers not only helps you to run faster and longer, but may also reduce risks of pain and injury.
A good running shoe is designed specifically to diffuse the load shooting up the rest of your leg.
By training in improper shoes, you might increase risks of knee pain (and other issues)—and you don’t want that.
Just don’t get me wrong.
I’m not suggesting that proper shoes are the ultimate solution to your knee issues.
But it’s a start, and an important part of an overall prevention and treatment and plan.
That said, I should also point out—and this may surprise some of you—that the current research on the effectiveness of running shoes in improving performance and preventing overuse injury is, at best, mixed.
This link provides you with more insight on the subject at hand.
Yet, in my experience, a proper pair is non-negotiable—regardless.
Therefore, to stay safe, you got to find a shoe that fits your feet properly.
More importantly, go for a pair that supports your natural foot type—whether you’re neutral, high arched (supinator), or flat-footed (overpronator) runner.
To find a suitable pair, head to your local running store and ask for a foot type and gait analysis, which will help you find what best matches your physiological and training needs.
Also, be sure to replace your trainers regularly.
The more miles you run in a pair, the more worn down the shock absorption becomes.
This increases the load stresses shooting up your legs, which, in turn, could result in knee pain.
As a general rule, change your running shoes every 400 to 500 miles—depending on your training intensity, body weight, running terrains, and personal preferences.
For more advice on how to pick proper running shoes, check these posts:
Additional Resource – Here’s how to use KT Tape for runners knee.
Prevent Knee Pain When Running – 2. Strength Train
Strength training is good for you.
If this is news to you, you have a lot to catch up to.
I have already written extensively on the importance of strength training for runners here.
More specifically, a good strength routine can do wonders for preventing knee pain—and all sorts of overuse injuries.
For instance, if the muscles of your lower body are weak, then it’s your joints—mainly the knees—that take the brunt of the impact of each pounding strike.
And research supports this.
One example is a study published in the Journal of Athletic.
In the research, almost 80 percent of runners with knee issues reported experiencing less pain after three to four weeks of hip and core strength training.
Not convinced yet?
Another research published in Medicine & Science found that female runners with patellofemoral joint pain —a notorious overuse injury colloquially known as “runner’s knee” —had a deficit in hip external rotation, abduction and extension strength, when compared to age-matched injury-free runners.
So, to avoid the pain (or to keep it from creeping back), spend time doing strength training exercises that target your lower body.
Specifically, exercises targeted at your knee stabilizing muscles. These include your hips, glutes, hamstrings, quadriceps, and calves. This makes it hard to separate the wheat from the chaff when it comes to identifying the most effective strength exercises.
The following exercises consist of my seven favorite moves. They’re easy to perform, effective and suitable for most runners regardless of fitness level or training background..
Additional resource – Knee brace for running
Prevent Knee Pain When Running – 3. Eat Right
When dealing with knee pain, don’t overlook the power of diet.
As a runner, you’ll need the right nutrients and substances to help protect your cells from damage and maintain healthy joints.
For starters, get plenty of calcium.
Most experts recommend 1,100 to 1,300 mg of this mineral each day.
Dairy products and dark green veggies are some of the ideal sources of calcium.
Here is the full guide to calcium foods.
Another nutrient is omega-3 fatty acids.
These fatty acids are natural anti-inflammatories that can help ease joint inflammation before it damages the joints.
The best sources of omega-3s include salmon, herring, tuna, cod, sardines, and mackerel, as well as fish oil supplements.
Furthermore, you might need to supplement.
Many athletes take Chondroitin sulfate and Glucosamine supplements to deal with joint pain since it’s believed that these encourage cartilage formation and repair.
However, the research is still mixed on the effectiveness of the supplements, so consult a certified physician if it can be helpful to your case.
Most experts recommend a minimum dosage of 1,200 mg of Chondroitin sulfate and 1,500 mg of Glucosamine daily.
Additional Resource – Running after knee replacement
Prevent Knee Pain When Running – 4. Lean Forward
If your knees are in pain while running, it could be that you need to change your form—more specifically, your trunk position.
In fact, according to this research paper published in Medicine & Science in Sport & Exercise, an increased trunk flexion may decrease compressive forces on the patellofemoral joint.
In English: a slight forward lean while running reduces the load placed on the knees, which, in turn, cuts the risks of discomfort and injury at the joint.
The Process?
Opting for a slight forward lean while running may help shift your weight from the knees to the hip, thus reducing impact forces on the knees.
That said, getting the slight forward lean right is a bit tricky.
Here is how to do it right:
Make sure that the lean, or the “fall,” is coming from the ankles, not the hips.
It should feel almost like you’re falling forward.
You should not feel broke nor bent at the trunk.
Allow your torso to come a bit forward—at least seven to ten degrees, according to the before mentioned research—while simultaneously flexing your hips and lower abdominals subtly.
In other words, opt for a mild lean, not a complete bent-over position.
Think skiers stance.
Here is an awesome YouTube Tutorial
Prevent Knee Pain When Running – 5. Increase Your Cadence
Another technique tweak to consider when dealing with knee pain from running is to to avoid overstriding.
So what is it all about?
When you overstride, you’re, in essence, reaching too much forward with your legs as you swing them forward in front of your “center of gravity
When you do, you’ll be slamming your foot down, creating a braking action with each stride.
Then, all of these impact stresses of hitting the ground goes right up your feet to your knees.
This, in theory at least, limits your efficiency and increases your risk of injury.
As a result, most experts agree on the fact that overstriding is bad.
Do not let your feet get ahead of you.
Make sure to stay ahead of your feet.
Do not let your legs swing forward, not to the rear.
Here is the good news:
Reducing stride length can put a stop to overstriding, thus decrease injury risk, research shows.
And one of the best ways to do so is to simply increase your cadence.
In fact, research conducted at the University of Wisconsin found that an increased cadence reduces the impact load on the lower body.
Here is how to improve your cadence:
Determine your current cadence by counting how many times your feet hit the ground in one minute of running.
If it’s over 160, you’re in the clear.
But, if your cadence is below 160 steps per minute, they should increase it by 5 to 10 percent from one week to the next.
Additional resource – Sore quads after running
Prevent Knee Pain When Running – 6. Stretches For Knee Pain
There are plenty of exercises that focus on stretching the quadriceps, hips, hamstrings, and knee regions.
By stretching regularly regularly, you’ll help keep your muscles loose, limber, and up for the job, which will provide better protection for your knees.
check the following routines:
- Routine 1
- Routine 2
- Routine 3
Prevent Knee Pain When Running – 7. Avoid Overtraining
Running too much too soon is the recipe for knee pain—and all sorts of injury.
In fact, whether you’re motivated to lose the pounds as soon as possible or have just signed up for a race, it’s important not to increase training intensity too abruptly.
Instead, ease yourself into running, regardless of how incentivized you feel.
Start with low to moderate intensity runs for shorter distances, then progress as you feel up to it—not the other way around.
One simple rule is to follow the ten percent principle—do not increase your weekly mileage by more than 10 percent from one week to the next.
Also, be sure to take enough rest—when needed—to allow for proper recovery.
Furthermore, listen to your body and train accordingly.
So, for instance, if you’re experiencing knee pain, back off and assess what you’re doing.
In fact, stop running whenever you’re experiencing knee discomfort or pain.
To deal with the pain, opt for the PRICE method.
This consists of:
- Protecting the affected knee from further injury—for example, by using a support.
- Let the affected knee rest by avoiding high impact exercise for a few days.
- Ice the injured knee for 15 to 20 minutes, three to four times per day.
- Compress the affected knee by using a wrap, a splint, etc.
- Elevate the affected joint above heart level to reduce swelling.
If pain persists, seek medical help ASAP.
Dilly-dallying with knee pain will only make your case way more severe—and that’s not something you’d want to.
You are a smart runner, aren’t you?
Additional Resource -Your guide to jaw pain while running
How to Prevent Knee Pain When Running – The Conclusion
Running without hurtling your knees can be done if you follow the above guidelines. The rest is just detaisl.
Please feel free to leave your comments and questions in the section below.
Thank you for dropping by.
David D.
