So I am all excited about working out and starting to run/jog for the first time ever...and my knees are acting up. I was able to do it just fine for about 2 weeks now I have puffy knees and they take turns causing me pain. I will take 3-4 days off from running and do the bike and they start to feel ok again and then the very next time it happens again. I bought a knee brace but it does not seem to help. BAD KNEES! Why are you trying to derail me?!?!

Has anyone else had knee problems from running and do you have any advice?

ME!!

1. What kind of brace did you get?
2. Where is your pain..in the joint, on top, front, back?
3. Does it hurt right away, or after a while? Hills and inclines?

My doc is a marathon runner and this is how he explained it to me - and told me how to fix it.

--Running strengthens and works the backs of your legs. The fronts of your legs don't get as much of a workout causing uneven pressure on your knees.

Solutions?

1. Strengthen the fronts of your legs with step ups (on a stair step) and by laying on your back and lifting your leg (make sure to bend the other one)

2. Run the straightaways walk the inclines for now (up and down)

3. Run on a softer surface for a while (treadmill or the dirt on the side of the trail)

4. Make sure to stretch before and after your run.

I had a really hard time with my left knee. I started this program and things got better. I ran with my brace on for a month. My right knee started to act up this last 2 weeks as I've put on more miles, so the brace is on that knee and I'm ramping up my quadriceps exercises.

HTH

Andrea

Solutions?

1. Strengthen the fronts of your legs with step ups (on a stair step) and by laying on your back and lifting your leg (make sure to bend the other one)



When you say laying on my back and lifting my leg while bending the other - are you talking about lift them horizontally or vertically?

Lie on your back with your hands by your sides and one leg bent and one leg straight. Lift your straight leg up as far as you can while keeping your foot bent flat. Lift 20 times, switch to the other leg and do 20 more.

Here's a photo of someone doing both legs at once...that exercise will work your abs, though.
http://www.totalgym.com/cgi-bin/exer...tails.cfm?i=46

Cool! Thanks for the info. I will give it a try and see if it helps. I really miss running...I never thought I would hear myself say that! LOL