my first post... knee pain

mapatchie wrote in message <[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

So I began running (for the first time in my life) 3 weeks ago. I
ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! I cant imagine stopping, but week 2 I started getting
knee pain in the knee that I have had some cartilage removed in a couple
years back. I wrapped it with an ace bandage and continued running for
another week. Now my other knee is also sore... especially when I bend

down

Quoted message said:

its hard to get up. ( I am feeling so old and I am only 33) I have some
swelling in the injured knee, and the ace bandage doesnt work well. I want
to continue and am looking into buying a GOOD brace.

please recommend some because I am totally a newbie.
I am running on mountain dirt roads with lots of hills. I just bought a
pair of NorthFace trail runners.... could they be part of the problem?

Thanks so much!
Beth

If both knees are sore, then (like it or not) that's a signal that you're
trying to do too much too soon. Trail running with hills takes a while to
get used to. How many times are you running each week, and how far? Also,
what caused you to have cartilage removed from your knee? It would also
help to know your general age and how active you were in the past.

You can ice occasional knee pain, but it should go away the next day or you
need to back off your training. Don't use painkillers to mask the pain. A
brace won't help you much if you're overloading your knee with running too
much too soon. Also, it might be that you can do some specific
strengthening exercises for your bad knee or for both knees.

- Tony

Also try a shoe fitting at a running store. They check your foot arch shape
and gait to see if you wobble too much or are too stiff. Then they may
suggest a type of running shoe that reduces these problems.

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In article <[email hidden]>, mapatchie

Quoted message said:

So I began running (for the first time in my life) 3 weeks ago. I
ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! I cant imagine stopping, but week 2 I started getting
knee pain in the knee that I have had some cartilage removed in a couple
years back. I wrapped it with an ace bandage and continued running for
another week. Now my other knee is also sore... especially when I bend down
its hard to get up. ( I am feeling so old and I am only 33) I have some
swelling in the injured knee, and the ace bandage doesnt work well. I want
to continue and am looking into buying a GOOD brace.

please recommend some because I am totally a newbie.
I am running on mountain dirt roads with lots of hills. I just bought a
pair of NorthFace trail runners.... could they be part of the problem?

Thanks so much!
Beth

Beth,

check out my post to ITBS Injury and Marathon. There are some
suggestions of things to do to deal with your knees.

My continued suggestion to people is to roll the quads, check out
http://www.mindfulness.com/of5.asp as some ways to do it.

Once the quads loosen for most people the knees are freed because the
patella tendons don't take the pressure that you'd get from the quad
only partially relaxing or being constrained by the sheath around the
muscle (fascia) so the tendon is stretched more than it should be.

If you can't find it let me know and I'll send it to you.
gontang@electricitidotcom.

In health and on the run,
Ozzie Gontang
Director, San Diego Marathon Clinic, est. 1975
Maintainer - rec.running FAQ
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/running-faq/
Mindful Running:
http://www.mindfulness.com/mr.asp

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions!!! Especially those who took time
to write me personally.
I am going to go to the Boulder Running Store and let them fit me.... maybe
the 40% off was not a bargain after all 😉
And I am checking into the websites and info that everyone sent.
I have only taken 2 days off out of 25, but that is because this running
thing is as much for my head as my body... I just feel like I cant get on
with my day if I dont step out for a bit. I will try some strength training
on it... I have about 35 extra pounds on me that I am carrying around and I
am sure it doesnt like that!

again thanks, and have a wonderful day!
B