Knee pain - Triathlon Week

OTs1stsprint · 04-13-2008, 07:41 PM

I've been running 3 miles or so twice a week for a month and have knee pain the day after running. My knees are stiff and ibuprofen usually helps but does anyone know any stretches to prevent this stiffness?

jlimato · 04-15-2008, 01:50 PM

Hello all.

I am a beginner hoping to learn some things from you all.

Crispy63 · 05-14-2008, 07:22 AM

I too had knee pain from running and was able to fix it relatively easy with a few changes. Most knee pain (also called runner's knee) comes from tracking issues, meaning that your knee is not aligned properly throughout the stride. When this happens, the working parts of the knee become irritated and inflamed causing irritation and pain. Poor tracking is usually caused by either weak quads, poor upper body running form, or both. I incorporated a core workout before running which gave me a strong base for my running form. I also did minor strength training for my lower back and quads. Finally, I worked extremely hard (and remain 100% concious) on how I hold my upper body while running. That was truly the key for me. Try standing straighter in your form (it will keep the weight off your legs and keep your hips in position to track with your knees correctly), loosen your shoulders (don't let them climb up around your neck), and keep your head level and in a neutral position (don't look down unless you need to).

Also, make sure you are not increasing your miles to quickly or this knee problem could simply be an overuse issue.

I hope this helps you in your quest to run