Why knees hurt while running

Also using cold packs, compression, and elevation may help. Medicine such as ibuprofen can lessen pain and reduce inflammation. Health Home Conditions and Diseases. What causes runner's knee? Other causes may include: A kneecap that is too high in the knee joint Weak thigh muscles Tight hamstrings Tight Achilles tendons Poor foot support Walking or running with the feet rolling in while the thigh muscles pull the kneecap outward Excessive training or overuse Injury.

What are the symptoms of runner's knee? These are the most common symptoms of runner's knee: Pain in and around the kneecap that happens when you are active. Rubbing, grinding, or clicking sound of the kneecap that you hear when you bend and straighten your knee Kneecap that is tender to the touch The symptoms of runner's knee may look like other conditions and health problems.

What does runner's knee feel like? What should I do about runner's knee? To help knee pain at home, Andy recommends applying ice to the knee and stretching. To stretch the area, Andy recommends lying on your side with your bad leg on top. If the pain's severe or the knee's swollen, see a GP straight away. They can also recommend stretches or exercises to help you recover.

Can I still run with a painful knee? Achilles pain The achilles tendon is the tough, rubbery cord at the back of the ankle that links the muscle to the bone. Regular running can cause wear and tear to the tendon over time. What does achilles pain feel like? What should I do about achilles pain when I run? Can I still run with Achilles pain?

Shin pain Shin pain occurs on the front of the leg, below the knee. What does shin splints feel like? Runners are often aware of a dull pain in the shin, but carry on running. What should I do about shin pain? Can I still run with shin splints? Find out more about shin splints 4. Heel pain Pain or swelling in the heel or bottom of the foot can occur if you suddenly start doing a lot more running, run uphill, or your shoes are not supportive enough or are worn out.

The medical name for heel pain is plantar fasciitis. What does runner's heel pain feel like? What should I do about heel pain? Can I still run with a painful heel? Muscle strains The most common strains caused by running are in the hamstring muscles which run down the back of the thigh or calf muscles. Strains often affect new runners, whose muscles are not used to running. What does muscle strain feel like? What should I do about a muscle strain? Keeping your leg elevated and supported with a pillow will help reduce swelling.

Find out more about treating strains Can I still run with a muscle strain? Tips for preventing injury Wear the right shoes It's important to buy the correct running shoes, and it's best to go to a running shop to get fitted. Jumping right into a run without warming up enough can also spell trouble. Where and how it hurts: You'll feel pain on the outside of your knee—and may even notice some popping or clicking sensations there, per HSS.

How to treat it: As with runner's knee, your best bet for easing ITBS pain is to rest it for at least a week to allow irritation to die down, suggests Jey. Otherwise, foam rolling and stretching regularly is important, Dr. Commit to spending at least five minutes per day stretching and foam rolling the outer sides of your thighs.

How to prevent it: "A good routine of stretching tight muscles and strengthening hip muscles will do wonders for keeping ITBS from affecting your workout routine," says Jey. Spend a few minutes stretching a few times each day and add hip-strengthening exercises like side-lying abductions and clamshells to your workout and warmup routines.

What causes it: Also referred to as "jumper's knee," patellar tendinitis is an overuse injury that typically crops up because of the impact of jumping and similar movements, explains Jey. In this case, the patellar tendon , which connects your knee cap to your shin bone becomes inflamed—and even torn. According to Dr. Strickland, running in worn-out shoes that no longer offer proper support can also contribute. Where and how it hurts: Feel a pain just below your knee cap?

It's probably patellar tendinitis, since that's exactly where your patellar tendon attaches to your shin bone, says Jey. People with this issue might also notice that pain when they first start running, get up from sitting down, or stretch, adds Dr. How to treat it: As always, ice and rest are your first step when dealing with jumper's knee, says Jey.

From there, Dr. Strickland recommends checking whether you need new running shoes, while Jey recommends considering wearing a knee brace that can lessen some of the force put on your patellar tendon. How to prevent it: For good measure, Dr.

News and Blog. Patient Education From orthopedic injuries to physical therapy, our patient education library explains many of the conditions and treatments you may want to read about.

Patient Stories Our doctors, physician assistants, nurses, and professional staff are what truly make Texas Orthopedics so great. See what our patients are saying about us. Garcia Jr. Koval Jr. McDonald Jr. Smith, Jr. Westmoreland, MD.