Fitness Forum – Sore Knees from Running

It’s not uncommon for avid runners to develop sore knees.  Many think that by running on a treadmill or on grass it might help with the pain.  

While this is the prevailing theory, unfortunately, it’s probably not the case. Many people think that running on a slightly softer surface will help with knee pain, and that seems to make sense. But it’s the force of your overall body mass on your joints that is causing the problem, so running on a treadmill vs. pavement really doesn’t matter.

Your best bet would be to change up your modes of exercise and incorporate a little more biking, elliptical, or rowing into your training. This will give your knees some much-needed rest, and then hopefully you can continue to run with little to no pain.

Also keep an eye on your terrain.  Many roads have slight angles on the shoulder which could affect your knees.  Of course, make sure you have a quality pair of running shoes that give you the proper support and cushioning.

Remember, if the pain gets too severe, you may want to take some time off and/or go see a sports physician to see if the pain is stemming from a more serious injury. 

Be healthy!