Knee pain can be debilitating because it inhibits movement and interferes with comfortably carrying out day-to-day activities.
If you lead an active lifestyle or if you regularly involved in activities that place strain on your knees, then you are likely to experience runner’s knee at some point. Before exploring how to relieve runner’s knee, let’s take a look at what it entails.
Runner’s knee is a common type of knee injury that causes pain around the kneecap. Named for how often it occurs among runners, this injury affects 19-30% of female runners and 13-25% of male runners.
Runner’s knee isn’t a specific injury, it covers several knee conditions such as chondromalacia patella, anterior knee pain syndrome, iliotibial band syndrome, and patellofemoral malalignment.
Moreover, runners aren’t the only ones who should learn how to relieve runner’s knee as this injury is not restricted to them alone. Other activities that can increase your likelihood of developing runner’s knee include:
This list is not exhaustive. If everyday activities such as walking can cause runner’s knee, learning how to relieve runner’s knee is important for everyone. Women are also more prone to developing runner’s knee due to weaker hip muscles, looser joints, and their unique leg alignment.
If you feel pain when you walk, climb stairs, squat, or knee, you may suffer from runner’s knee. It is necessary to know how to relieve your pain to prevent more damage to the knee cartilage. Thankfully, this injury rarely requires surgery and can be reduced using these three techniques.
Knee pain is often a result of tightness or weakness in the tendons and muscles that connect to your knees, which makes stretching for runner’s knee effective in relieving it. Targeting related areas such as the glutes, calves, hamstrings, hips, and quads in non-intensive daily workouts can speed up your recovery from runner’s knee. Doing this regularly will also prevent a recurrence.
Think of the muscles and tendons connected to your knee as parts of an assembly line tasked with supporting your knee. Building strength in these areas is, therefore, crucial to reducing how much stress is placed on your knee. Strength training exercises for runner’s knee include single-leg work, banded monster, or banded clamshell walks. These strengthen your hip abductors and stabilize weak muscles.
Muscle imbalance, misalignment, and overuse contribute to developing runner’s knee. The support provided by knee straps adjusts misalignment and imbalance while relieving pressure on the patellar tendon.
Knee straps are built to fit easily under your clothes, but they are also as effective when worn over clothing. When worn during high-intensity exercises and sports, they serve preventive functions as well.
Two highly recommended knee straps for runner’s knee are:
Runner’s knee should not be taken lightly, this seemingly minor pain can potentially cause more damage to your knee cartilage if left untreated.
At Medi-Dyne, we understand your pain and have created a unique range of products to provide support for your knees and offer relief during and after strenuous physical activities.
Browse ourselection of products designed to relieve your knee pain today!
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KNEE PAIN: SOLUTIONS TO PREVENT RUNNER’S KNEE
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RUNNER'S KNEE
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PLEASE NOTE: The information on this website and article is for information only and should not be used as a substitute for consulting your doctor. Consult your doctor for proper diagnosis and rehabilitation.