Triathlete Knee Pain

Dr. Eric Mc Graw demonstrates Active Release. Triathlete patient discusses her success after treatment

Knee Pain Relief : Get Support From a Running Knee Brace While You are on the Trails

What should you do if you really enjoy running but are experiencing problems with your knees, that is threatening your ability to exercise?

Running is one of the most popular forms of exercise and is enjoyed by many people, young and old. It is a great sport, but it does present unique problems for your knees, and these can not be overlooked.

Knee supports are a very inexpensive way to help support your knees while you have these painful issues. Running knee supports are designed to allow ease of movement, while still helping to protect and stabilize your knee against the repetitive movements that are involved in running.

Wearing a knee brace while you run can help stabilizes the entire knee including the surrounding knee ligaments. If you have an ACL tear, or MCL tear, or even a meniscus tear,knee suports may be the answer you have been searching for.

Some runners fear that wearing a brace will make them alter their strides, but this is not true. Depending on the kind of knee brace that you find and wear, it can allow you to conduct your same stride lengths and movements as before you wore one. The only difference is that your knee will now have added protection from the constant stress that is placed on them during a run.

It is easy for some people to underestimate the amount of stress that running has on the joints in your lower extremities, espcially the knees. When you consider how much force is used in each stride that a runner takes and multiply that by the number of strides it takes to run for a few miles, the knees are forced to absorb the entire weight of the body plus the additional force of adding speed to the stride.

This stress is repetitive and can build up over time and eventually cause damage to the knee, tears to the ligaments, or even result in a meniscus tear. Many knee injuries and ligament tears can cause a great deal of discomfort and instability for runners; both physically and mentally. Some great advice is to consider the use of a well designed knee brace when you first start feeling that knee pain or instability. If your knees stay healthy, then you will be able to continue to enjoy the sport for a long time to come and still be able to log your miles without missing a beat or a stride on the trails.

Sharp Knee Pain When Running Can be a Serious Problem – a Brace Can Help You Out

Running and jogging are a great form of exercise. Sure, running can be great for your heart, but what about your knees!?

Whether you love running, or like to occasionally go for a jog, sharp knee pain can take you out of the race almost immediately. If you have been sidelined by sharp knee pain when running or jogging, you may be tempted to throw in the towel on the sport. But you may not have to do that!

While simply not running or jogging may be one way to avoid sharp knee pain, you may have other options that can keep you in the race.

Whether from injury or overuse, at some point, most runners experience sharp knee pain when running. The knee discomfort problems you are having can subside with rest and various training improvements (i.e. better running shoes, cutting back on downhill running, changing the surface you run on, etc.). Some athletes find that icing the knees after a run helps to reduce the pain. However, if the sharp pain persists, worsens, or recurs whenever you are running, it is important to have the problem evaluated by a qualified medical specialist.

The area of the knee where the sharp pain occurs can serve as a good indication of the possible cause of the pain when running. For instance, if the sharp pain is more localized within the joint line (interior) knee, the cause of the pain may be the menisci. However, if the sharp pain is primarily in the front of the knee, the cause may be related to the patella (kneecap). Either way, even if training improvements, rest and the application of ice do alleviate the pain, chances are, if you continue running, the pain will return.

So does that mean that to save your knees, you must give up running or jogging?

Not necessarily. Something as simple and affordable as a knee brace may help reduce or even eliminate the sharp pain and help keep you on the trails.

Knee supports are not difficult at all to use, and they come in a variety of styles. Some are firm and rigid, while others are soft and flexible. However, whatever the style or type, a knee brace is designed to help support the knee, helping to reduce the stress and impact on the muscles and ligaments caused by running. – They do not have to be big and bulky either. There are many options available for runners.

A knee brace can also be helpful in keeping the knee and knee cap properly aligned, which in turn can also help reduce or eliminate sharp pain in the knee when running. Helping the knee joint to remain in proper alignment and stay supported when running can really help reduce injury levels.