How can I alleviate my knee problems while jogging?
December 1, 2023 | 30,00 EUR | answered by Eva Ziegler
Dear Doctor,
My name is Verena Fritsche and I am reaching out to you because I have been experiencing knee pain for some time now, especially when jogging. I am a passionate runner and I regularly go for runs to stay fit and reduce stress. However, my left knee has been causing me significant problems while running. The pain mainly occurs when I put pressure on my knee, such as when pushing off or cushioning. Even after running, my knee often feels stiff and painful.
I am worried that the pain could worsen and that I may have to limit or even give up my running activities. I have already tried reducing my running training and taking breaks, but the discomfort has not improved so far. I have also tried various stretching exercises to strengthen my muscles, but that has not really helped either.
Therefore, I would like to ask for your advice on how to alleviate my knee pain when jogging. Are there specific exercises I can do to relieve pressure on my knees? Should I perhaps wear special running shoes or improve my running technique? Are there medications or ointments I can take or apply to alleviate the pain? I would like to be able to run without pain again and I look forward to your recommendations.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Sincerely,
Verena Fritsche
Dear Verena Fritsche,
Thank you for your message and your trust in my expertise as an orthopedist. I am sorry to hear that you are suffering from knee pain, especially when jogging, as this is an activity that is important to you and that you enjoy. Knee pain is a common problem among runners and can have various causes, from overuse to structural issues in the knee joint.
First and foremost, it is important to determine the exact cause of your knee pain in order to recommend a targeted treatment. It could be due to overuse of the knee joint, caused by too intense training or incorrect running technique. It could also be that structural problems such as patellar tendonitis, a meniscus injury, or misalignment of the knee joint are present.
To alleviate your knee pain while jogging, I recommend taking a break from running to give your knee time to recover. In the meantime, you can engage in alternative sports that put less strain on the knee, such as swimming or cycling. Additionally, you can perform specific exercises to strengthen the muscles around the knee joint to stabilize and relieve the knee.
It is also important to check your running technique to ensure that you are absorbing and pushing off correctly to avoid excessive strain on the knee joint. A running coach or physiotherapist can help you develop an optimal running technique. Furthermore, special running shoes with cushioning and stability can help reduce the strain on the knee.
In terms of medications or ointments to alleviate pain, anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen can help reduce pain and inflammation in the knee. Cooling ointments or gels can also contribute to pain relief. However, please note that these remedies only offer temporary relief and do not treat the cause of knee pain.
I strongly recommend scheduling an appointment with an orthopedist or sports medicine specialist to receive an accurate diagnosis of your knee problems and develop an individual treatment strategy. In some cases, physiotherapy or a special knee brace may be necessary to relieve the knee and alleviate the symptoms.
I hope that my recommendations help you alleviate your knee pain and be able to run pain-free soon. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions or need support.
Best regards,
Eva Ziegler, MD
