Runner's Knew

[Anonymous]

I started running a couple of years ago, at first very low distance/low speed, but I've gradually picked up my pace and ran a 60 minute 10k and 28 minute 5k across the past few months. I'm mid-40s, tall/slim, and run 2-4 miles 3-4 times a week, mostly on a treadmill during the cooler months.

A few weeks ago, I felt a pain in my right foot, but kept going, and it resolved. But then I felt a pain in my left knee. I think I must have adjusted my form which hurt my knee.

Anyway, for anyone who has had runner's knee, how did you recover? Did you take 6-8 weeks off from all exercise? Did you do other exercise instead of running? Did you run through it and eventually get better? My pain is not extreme, I can run a mile or so before it begins hurting, but then I have a dull throbbing pain that continues to get worse until I stop.

Thanks for any advice on how best to recover.

[Anonymous]

Title should be Runner's Knee - sorry about that!

[Anonymous]

When is the last time you replaced your shoes?

[Anonymous]

I generally run through little nagging pains, but you just have to know when it’s more than that. I try to avoid treadmills, though. I think the variation of running on different outside surfaces helps a bit.

[Anonymous]

Running specific strength training is your answer - at least it is 90% of the time. Do you do any? At that volume it’s probably no, but if you enjoy running find a direct access PT (i think all of the DMV is direct access) and get some programming from them. If you go see an ortho they are going to send you to PT anyways.

[Anonymous]

Go to a physical therapist. None of the arm chair experts here can diagnose you or provide a treatment plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I started running a couple of years ago, at first very low distance/low speed, but I've gradually picked up my pace and ran a 60 minute 10k and 28 minute 5k across the past few months. I'm mid-40s, tall/slim, and run 2-4 miles 3-4 times a week, mostly on a treadmill during the cooler months.

A few weeks ago, I felt a pain in my right foot, but kept going, and it resolved. But then I felt a pain in my left knee. I think I must have adjusted my form which hurt my knee.

Anyway, for anyone who has had runner's knee, how did you recover? Did you take 6-8 weeks off from all exercise? Did you do other exercise instead of running? Did you run through it and eventually get better? My pain is not extreme, I can run a mile or so before it begins hurting, but then I have a dull throbbing pain that continues to get worse until I stop.

Thanks for any advice on how best to recover.

Go to a physical therapist. They will get you back to running.

[Anonymous]

Go see a professional and don’t ignore the pain. I kept running (was training for a half marathon) despite knee pain until I had trouble putting weight on it. It was even hard to walk. It took me a year to recover and I never went back to running.

[Anonymous]

See a professional. I injured my knee in an accident (not running) in my early 20s, didn’t with it at the time and was never bothered as a long distance runner until I was mid-30s. I could run three miles but any further and I could barely walk.

A physical therapist put me on a strength training program to rehabilitate fully and now it’s been a decade with no further problems.

It did give me a later-in-life strength training bug, which was a nice addition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:See a professional. I injured my knee in an accident (not running) in my early 20s, didn’t with it at the time and was never bothered as a long distance runner until I was mid-30s. I could run three miles but any further and I could barely walk.

A physical therapist put me on a strength training program to rehabilitate fully and now it’s been a decade with no further problems.

It did give me a later-in-life strength training bug, which was a nice addition.

I'm surprised some runners don't do anything for strengthening (like resistance exercises). These are a MUST for strong hips.