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Runner's Knee
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Running Tip: Strengthen Quads With Wall Squats
If you're a runner and you want to increase your speed, build your endurance, and have the ability to tackle hills with a breeze, you need to have strong quads. Strengthening your thighs can also prevent injuries such as runner's knee. This common injury, which often happens to new runners, is tied to a combination of weak quads and tight hamstrings and calves.
Fit Tip: Mind Your Knees
As my mom would say, "Take care of your knees, you only get one pair," and nothing could be more true than when it comes to running.
Running is a great way to burn a lot of calories and tone up that lower body, but it can also be pretty tough on your knees — it's not called runner's knee for nothing. No matter if you're an outdoor or indoor runner, one of the best things you can do for yourself and your knees is to switch up your workouts frequently, and don't forget that runners need strength training, too.
Avoid Runner's Knee
If you are new to running you definitely want to be wary of developing runner's knee, an overuse injury that is twice as likely to occur in women than men. Known in the medical world as patellofemoral pain syndrome (PPFS), runner's knee causes pain in and around the knee cap (or patella). The pain is caused by tracking issues with the knee cap that irritate the bony groove the knee cap actually sits in.
Tips to Prevent Runner's Knee
Runner's knee — pain around the kneecap, especially when walking down stairs — is no fun at all and can really put a damper on your exercise routine. There are several things you can do to help prevent runner's knee from happening, such as:
- Take time to get your body in good condition before performing activities that stress the knees.
- Try to lose weight. Being overweight puts additional stress on the knees.
- Always warm up and stretch your legs before you exercise.
Other Search Results
Hike the Hill: Preventing Knee Pain
Fall is the perfect time to hike. There's a cool breeze, the fallen leaves make the trail even softer, and once you reach the pinnacle, you'll be amazed at the gorgeous foliage across the horizon. I love to try out new mountain trails, but find that the steep inclines and declines can be really hard on my knees.
Strike a Yoga Pose: Balancing Butterfly
If you're a runner, chances are your feet could use some extra love. Here's a tranquil pose that will stretch your arches and toes like Toe Breaker stretch, but will also open your hips and challenge your sense of balance.
To learn how to do this pose and see another variation read more
Run Barefoot and Avoid Running Injuries?
The idea of running barefoot seems like some new age, hippie movement to get people to be free in their bare skin. Or some eco-friendly push to persuade people to forgo sneakers so they don't end up in landfills. Although the freedom and environmental arguments for barefoot running are valid, Christopher McDougall, author of the best-selling book Born to Run, believes running without sneakers could be the answer to preventing shin splints, knee pain, and other running injuries.
Strike a Yoga Pose: Happy Baby
Tight hips and a tight lower back are common complaints among runners and bikers, so here's a relaxing stretch that will stretch both. It's similar to Half Happy Baby, but with this variation, both knees are bent at the same time.
Sanskrit Name: Ananda Balasana
English Translation: Happy Baby Pose
Also Called: Dead Bug
To learn how to do this pose read more
Is Running Slowly Bad For Your Knees?
For some, running leaves them with aching knees. It would seem logical that if you slowed down your speed, your knees would hurt less, reducing your risk for injury. But according to Runners World, the opposite is true: running at a pace of 10 minutes per mile or slower puts you at more risk for pain around the kneecap.
Strike a Yoga Pose: Compass
All you runners and bikers out there, I know you're always in need of a good hamstring stretch. Here's one that allows you to concentrate on one leg at a time, and will also open your hips and shoulders.
Sanskrit Name: Parivrtta Surya Yantrasana
English Translation: Revolved Compass Pose
Also Called: Compass
To learn how to do this pose read more
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