Running is one of the most accessible sports, which, besides comfortable shoes, does not require any more outfitting, thus it is an excellent way of maintaining physical fitness and health. In addition, jogging in the open air to your favorite music, sounding through headphones, help to relieve nervous tension, get rid of stress, depression, complexes.
But it is worth considering that running is also a huge load for the body, which can be dangerous even for beginners, who are accustomed to a sedentary lifestyle, and also for those who have any diseases. Very heavy loads during running are subjected to knees, which account for almost the entire weight of a person. In this regard, many are faced with the fact that after the running knees begin to hurt from the side, from the inside or outside.
Why knees hurt after running?
Pain in different parts of the knee can be caused by damage to the joint, ligamentous apparatus, as well as exacerbation of pathologies that previously had no pronounced manifestations. The most common reasons are:
1. Dislocation of the kneecap - is accompanied by a sharp pain at the time of injury, deformation of the knee.
2. Damage to the meniscus (rounded cartilage in the knee joint) - occurs more often as a result of turning the leg, accompanied by pain and limited mobility in the joint.
3. Damage to ligaments (tension, rupture).
4. Presence of chronic inflammatory or deformative pathologies:
- arthritis;
- arthrosis;
- synovitis;
- tendonitis;
- bursitis;
- flat feet;
- scoliosis, etc.
Among non-professionals who have recently started running, knee pains can often be associated with the following factors:
- incorrect technique of running (more often - incorrect position of the body, legs during the run);
- incorrectly selected sports shoes;
- absence or inadequate warm-up before running;
- Running on an uneven or asphalt (too hard) surface;
- overload.
What if my knees hurt after running?
Any pain syndromes in the area of the knee joints are a signal that the load should be discontinued and in the near future visit the doctor to establish the exact reasons. If the pain is caused by traumatic factors, the knee is damaged, then, first of all, it is necessary to perform the following:
- Arrange peace for the injured leg - lie down and give it a slightly elevated position.
- Apply a cold compress to the knee.
- Fix the joint with a bandage or elastic bandage.
With severe pain, you can take an anesthetic drug from a group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. If the pain is not related to traumatic factors, it is possible to apply warming compresses or ointments (creams) with a warming effect, which help improve microcirculation in tissues. However, in any case it is recommended to consult a specialist.
What treatment is required if the knees hurt after running?
To determine the causes of pain syndrome, a thorough examination of the knee joint is carried out, attention is paid to the condition of soft tissues, the nature of gait disturbance, and leg resilience. By means of palpation the localization of pain, presence of effusion is specified. Instrumental techniques are also used:
- X-ray;
- Ultrasound;
- MRI;
- arthroscopy and so forth.
The way and how to treat the knees, if they hurt after running, can be determined by the results of the diagnosis. If no pathology is found, adjust the duration of the workout, change shoes, consult an experienced athlete about the rules of the run.