Should I keep running if my knees hurt?

Proper exercise is good for the human body, but many people do not master the correct method when exercising. Running is one of the ways people often exercise, which can cause physical problems. You need to pay attention to safety when running. However, it is difficult to avoid accidents, such as falling and getting injured while running, which can cause knee pain that can last for a period of time. So if your knees hurt when running, should you continue running?

Should I keep running if my knees hurt?

No need to keep running.

Incorrect running posture and unsuitable running shoes are likely the main causes of knee pain when running. If you find your knees hurting, you should slow down slowly and shorten the distance between the end point and your current position. If your knees hurt after running, you should get enough rest and reduce the intensity of running the next day. If your knees still hurt the next day, you can do some rehabilitation training.

If the pain is severe, you should stop running for 2 to 4 weeks and take some anti-inflammatory drugs orally, such as ibuprofen, ibuprofen, indomethacin, etc. (follow the doctor's advice).

Why don't you keep running if your knees hurt?

Due to repeated contraction of the thigh muscles and repeated flexion and extension of the knee joint during running, the patellar tendon ligament is under excessive pressure; when the pressure reaches a certain level, it is easy to cause minor damage to the patellar tendon ligament. If things go on like this for a long time, it may cause local aseptic inflammation, degeneration, brittleness, and even tearing of the patellar tendon.

Initially it causes tiny tears in the knee (patellar) tendon while your body tries to repair the damage. Therefore, in order to reduce damage and promote relief of knee pain, if you find knee pain while running, you can stop insisting. You should slow down slowly and adjust to the transition from fast walking to slow walking.

How to relieve knee pain when running

Local cold compress

When the knee pain is obvious, you can apply small ice cubes or a towel soaked in water to the painful area, 2 to 3 times a day, each time for 5 to 15 minutes. Cold compress can relieve pain and promote the reduction of local inflammation. It is an effective method to relieve knee pain in the early stage.

Half squatting at the wall

Stand with your back against a wall and your feet 45-60 cm in front of you. Slowly bend your knees to less than 90 degrees and keep your knees below your toes. How long should you squat? When you feel soreness in your thighs, count to 6 seconds. If possible, clamp a ball between your knees and do 5 sets of 8-12 times each time.

Standing Calf Stretch

1. Stretch your arms out and hold them against a wall (or a flat surface), and stand with your legs forward and backward;

2. Bend the front leg, straighten the back leg, and lean forward (without bending the waist);

3. Keep your heels on the ground and switch legs after 30 seconds. Do three sets of each side.

Summary in one sentence: Should you continue running if your knees hurt? Whether during or after running, once you notice pain in your knee joint, especially pain in the patellar tendon ligament, you should reduce the amount of running and do not need to continue to force yourself to avoid aggravating the knee pain.