New to Running- Knee Problems

This is probably something to be brought up with your doctor if you know that you are a preexisting condition.

Things that can help, a knee brace or wrapped the knee may help keep it in place. Go to a running store where they measure your feet and get fitted for a GOOD pair of running shoes. I think there is some rule about not increasing over 10% per week or something like that. Doing too much too soon ends up injury. When I started running I did too much too son and suffered for 3 months from runner's knee. If it hurts stop. No pain no gain is not true. Your rest days are just as important as your run days.

Congrats and I hope you can run. It's such a great stress reliever!!! Good luck!

The trainer that I saw at our local YMCA told me that if you want to run, you should really weight train as well. Runners often have injuries because they are so focused on running, but not working on their leg strength.

I'd see a trainer before starting to run.

Only a doctor specializing in sports medicine could tell you for sure. Most doctors in my experience will just tell you not to exercise if it hurts (great advice, huh?).

I would suggest starting slowly. I would try running for short distances at a slower speed and see how your knees respond. There are exercises you can do to build up the muscles around your knees, also. A physical therapist could give you more advice in that area. Good shoes, ones that fit you and your running style, would be important, too.

I have heard of the "kneecaps on crooked" problem, though. I have a young cousin who has speedskated at the Olympics. She had surgery on both her knee caps a few months ago to fix this exact problem. She said that the amount of time she spent skating and the intensity, her height, and being female all contributed to the problem. She is back skating now after her surgery and rehab.

My 18yo daughter had a similar issue. After she had an MRI, the orthopedist says she had a "misaligned patella" (as well as a coritical defect in her knee, but that's a different story). There are certain exercises you can do to help strengthen your knee that really help. Perhaps a physical therapist or trainer could help you.

Alos, please invest in really, really good shoes -- both for running & general living. Makes a HUGE difference. And be aware of how you use your feet. If you're gait is problematic, your knees and your hips will definitely suffer.

Good for you for getting back in to an exercise routine! If at all possible, please take care to do it in a way that helps your health and doesn't hurt your joints.

Good luck!

if you have the money - check into a personal trainer - make sure your running stance is right - also google running groups in your area - like we have the Reston Runners - and they will be able to help guide you as well.

You could have bad knees - not everyone is a runner. And if you have a torn cartilage or chondromalaica patellae or a floating knee cap - running may not be the course of action/training you need to take - try swimming, bicycling or some other sport that is easier on the joints than running.

I have bad knees (years of being a cheerleader are coming back to haunt me ;). Running makes my knees swell, and if I keep going anyway, it starts to feel like there's ground glass in there. Ouch. My suggestion to you is to walk instead of run. You can burn fat and do cardio as well with walking as you can with running, believe it or not. I even walked a couple of half-marathons (and beat a lot of the "runners")! The trick is to take short, quick steps and move FAST! It's easy on your knees, but you will be just as sore, muscle-wise, as you are with running, but the difference is, you won't have the joint pain. It has worked really well for me! Good luck with your fitness routine. I hope you find a solution that works.

As a Personal Trainier and avid runner, your body isn't telling you not to run. I would need more info, but my guess is that you need to strengthen the muscles and ligaments around the knee. This would included, the knee ligaments, there are four, and the quadriceps, hamstrings. Most likely the glutes, and the muscles of the lower leg. Great exercises are squats, lunges, calve raises, step ups...I could go on and on.

After building your leg strength, the next best thing is to go to a running store, I prefer Boulder Running Company, it is owned and operated buy runners and check into the best shoes for your feet. They have a ton of options and support for shoes. They also have running clubs to keep you motivated! Pick a run and train for it!

Start out by walking as a warm up for five to 10 minutes, then try jogging for three to five minutes and walking for three to five minutes. The problem may have happened because you didn't work up to running and you stressed the body to much.

Good luck on the run and with your goals!

I would also suggest the strength training exercises (straight leg lifts with weight work better for me than squats, since the knee bending hurts), as well as the recommendation for good running shoes. Plan to spend at least $100, and replace them every 6-12 months - depending on how much you run. Also, try using one of those knee supports with the hole cut out of the middle for running, or one of those bands that goes just under your knee. All 3 of those help me, although I'm terrible about the exercises, so I continue to suffer...

There is a brand of running gear that may help you. I absolutely love my pants by this company, they definitely keep your legs aligned, check out their website..... http://cw-x.com/default.aspx

I took up running last September after a 6-year hiatus. I started having symptoms like yours, and it just kept getting worse -- although it never swelled up very much.

I was thinking of running a 10K and finally decided I had to find out if there was something seriously wrong, or if I was injuring myself really badly.

I went to a friend who is an orthopaedic doc and discovered I have chondromalacia. I am just finishing up a month of physical therapy tomorrow and I'm planning to start running slowly again.... but also doing physical therapy on my own to strengthen my weak knee.

You should probably have your knee checked out if you're going to continue running. With physical therapy I already have less pain, and I'm looking forward to running again. Oh, and no drugs needed. Just strength training.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/chondromalacia-patella/D...