Why Knee Pain Gets Worse While Exercising

January 23, 2018

Exercise

Runners Knee

With Spring and Summer quickly approaching, it’s no surprise when I get an influx of new patients at my clinic with complaints about knee pain around this time of year.

Why? Most people tend to take up a more active lifestyle in order to prepare for the upcoming seasons. Those who are new to working out begin to walk or run farther than they probably should.

Those who have been consistently active start to amp up their workouts and add in a few extra runs here and there, going 4 days a week instead of 2.

Both of these situations can lead to something called “runner’s knee”. Just as the name sounds, this condition is common among runners, and not just the experienced ones. Runner’s knee, unfortunately, can affect those who are new to running as well.

Now you may be wondering, “What exactly is a runner’s knee?”.

Running can often cause irritation around the knee area, and the ensuing pain can either be sharp and sudden or irritating and gradual. I even hear people say that their pain disappears after they start running, just to reappear afterward.

How Does Runner’s Knee Cause You Pain?

If you aren’t used to running or becoming too aggressive with your running schedule without building up to it, it can be a shock to your knees. Tissues need time and or increasing load over time to safely adapt to new or more load.

It’s important to strengthen your legs and gradually build up to how long you want to run and how many times a week you’d like to run because if your knees are weak, they aren’t going to be able to support you. This means you’re much more prone to aches and pains.

Want to know how to strengthen your knees? Watch this video with simple knee strengthening techniques.

So What’s The Solution?

The solution is simple. Strengthening not only the knee muscles but the hip and lower back muscles as well will allow your knees to become strong enough to support the pressure placed on them. The solution is not to start exercising more.

Many times exercising and being active is great for you…to an extent. If you aren’t doing the right type of exercises that benefit everything else you’re doing, then it could cause more harm than good.

This means incorporating exercises and stretches that will help to strengthen the right muscles allowing your knees to walk and run for longer durations of time and with reduced pain afterward.

To view more tips and advice about knee pain, visit the “knee pain” tab on our website or pick up a copy of my free report instantly directly below.

Nick Hunter, PT, DPT
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