But now, nobody ever tickles Terry...

[boolean263]

Three Sundays ago, I was running my Long Slow Distance run with the group, and it was good. But then, it wasn't. Slowly, gradually, so I didn't notice it until it was already rather irritating, I developed a pain in my knee joint, on the outside. It was irritating, but not outright painful, during the run. After the run, it hurt. A lot. It

Comments

[einsdrache]

Hmm. Both knees or just one?

Well, if it helps, I doubt it's a cartilage problem, or a structural defect (laterally tilted patella/kneecap). If it were, usually both knees will get it.

Shoes might be a problem yes, and maybe Boo might wanna look into his route - if it's a circuitous outdoor up/down route (circle), and if you keep doing right turns and the right/left hurts, it might be that your route is imbalanced and causes a bit too much stress on the Illiotibial ligament.

Probably a muscle problem I think: Tensor fascia lata, located at your hip and forming a tendon/ligament stretching all the way down to the bottom of your outer knee (which keeps the IT tract/fascia/band/thing tense and steadies your knee joint). Though, also, you might wanna check on the Gluteus Maximumus (butt); since that also covers your hip and controls the IT somewhat. Stretching both and making sure you land your feet properly when running is the best you can do, I think.

Boo's no spring chicken!

[boolean263]

Thanks for all the tips! I appreciate the different perspectives. I don't run a single route, so it's probably not that. We take different routes on different days, and usually for different distances.

I've been stretching my IT band, hamstrings and glutes more carefully since the injury, but it doesn't seem to have kept it from recurring. I've had a sports injury therapist recommended to me, I'll probably try to visit him soonish. His recommendations will be useful in trying to get new shoes, too.

I may be no spring chicken, but I've still got a few miles left in me! d:

[earthlingmike]

lol, spring chicken. You're 3 months older than me.

[earthlingmike]

Yup, 7 months and 400k is old for running shoes. I would get shin splints sooner than that as my shoes got worn out, when I used to run.

I've had problems with my knees with bicycle riding, but a different problem. Aside from the sneakers all I can think of to suggest is to make sure you're warm and/or warmed up enough when you run. Maybe wear some sort of leg warmer that you can put over your knees if the weather is warm enough otherwise. I suppose you could check to see whether you're tensing up some muscle in a way that isn't necessary, that helped me with my shin splints. But of course shin splints are a different thing.

[boolean263]

Shin splints are evil. From what I understand, they're even more difficult to treat than IT band issues. I'm sorry to hear you suffer from them.

I believe I've been doing things "right" when I run; we do a short warmup jog, stretch, and then do our real run, before stretching again to cool down. Having said that, this time I'm a pace group leader, so I don't really get to run at my full pace any more. I wonder if that might also be a problem. The leg warmer is an interesting idea; maybe I'll try running in long running pants instead of shorts even when it's not strictly necessary, and see if that helps.

Thanks for the tips! Youngster.

[earthlingmike]

You're welcome.

[semiloki]

Actually, you really can tear or strain cartiledge in just one knee or tear the meniscus in just one knee. I don't think it sounds like a miniscus tear, but if it doesn't start improving soon you may want to look into that.

You can tear just one knee because most people don't put equal strain on both legs and if you stumble you usually just do that with one leg. We tend to be right or left footed, same as with your hands, and accidents are rarely symmetrical.

My 2 cents.