Why do I have knee pain while running?
As we move towards the warmer weather of springtime, everyone is starting to venture outside for their exercise. If you’ve decided to take up running and notice knee pain, we might be able to help you. As a physiotherapist, my clients are asking “How did this happen in the first place?”. Here are some questions you can ask yourself to help you find out where your injury is coming from.
Do my joints move well in certain parts of my body?
It might be that your range of motion is limited in different areas of your body, leading to having a sore knee. Range of motion is the amount of available movement within a joint. After an injury, areas that have less range of motion can lead to compensatory patterns and injuries. Your physiotherapist can complete a range of motion analysis to see where your restrictions might be. This is sometimes caused by an old injury, and requires remodeling of tissue with very specific stretches. Physiotherapists will provide stretches that you can do at home and provide feedback on your form.
Are certain muscles in my leg weak?
Another reason for knee pain is weakness of muscles in your lower legs. Some common areas of weakness are gluteal muscles (also known as your buns), quadriceps, hamstrings, and even weakness in ankle and foot muscles. Physiotherapists are skilled in finding these muscular imbalances and providing the exact exercise for your condition.
Could it be the spine?
The chances of knee pain originating from the spine is 25% according to this research study here. Physiotherapists at Break Free Physiotherapy and Wellness are trained to determine whether your lower back is related to your knee pain.
There is also evidence that the spine can cause weakness in other muscles down your leg. If your spine is causing weakness of your hip, knee, ankle, or foot muscles, strengthening alone may not help with your injury. If key muscles in your leg are weak, this can cause increased stress to the structure of your knee. In this study the chances of hip and ankle weakness coming from your back is 71% and 29% respectively. The tricky part is back pain isn’t a good predictor of whether you have a spinal problem masquerading as a lower leg problem.
Our physiotherapists at Break Free are trained to listen to your story and find the source of your problem. There are tests our clinicians use to determine whether your injury is spine related.
Book an assessment today with one of our physiotherapists to learn more.
When is the last time I changed my running shoes?
If you don’t have any issues with your joints and muscles, perhaps it’s time for a change in footwear. A common question people ask is when to buy a new pair of runners. When to change your shoes depends on how often you use them. If you run daily, your shoes may not last as long as someone who runs once a week.
Here are some other things to look for:
Check the treads to see if they are shallow
The seams and upper fabric are starting to stretch or tear
You start noticing new aches and pains in your body recently
You’re getting new blisters in areas you have never had before
Your shoes are not fitting like they used to
Another question to ask is if you have the right shoe for your foot type. A physiotherapist can determine whether you are wearing the right shoes by looking at your walking pattern, your foot shape and the current shoes you have on. If you require customized shoes for a special condition, a physiotherapist can also recommend a pedorthist for an assessment.
How do I know if I need physiotherapy
If you’ve tried exploring the tips above and still have pain, it might be time to visit a physiotherapist. Often when you tried treating it on your own with no reprieve, another set of eyes can help you see something you cannot. Physiotherapists are trained to see these small details that make all the difference.
Book Now with one of our physiotherapists so they can help you get back to running pain free!
