What Advice Does a Knee Surgeon Have for Runners?

Running is the trendy sport of the moment. With the invention of the iPhone came interactive apps that coach even sedentary participants to run successful 5Ks. Running, however, is kind of an art form. It must be done correctly or the subject will experience debilitating pains.

Many active people wear down their knees over a period of time. Those in the military and runners alike are infamous for being arthroplasty patients. A surgeon’s first suggestion is being fitted for the right pair of shoes is the first step in saving knees. In the heel to toe motion that makes up a proper running stride, everyone will experience at least a little pronation - that is, noone’s foot hits the ground perfectly. So as one takes up running, first take up a collection to invest in a custom pair of shoes.

There are many stores around today that specialize in fitting different types of athletes with the correct shoe. Runners make up most of the sales, as hitting the pavement correctly during a run is the only way to avoid strain and injury. A professional fitter will be able to look at your current shoes, your arch, and your footprints to determine how your foot naturally hits the ground suggesting the correct shoe for each client.

However, a knee surgeon may be more helpful in coaching runners through injuries. First off, running is not an everyday sport. Experts suggest that even avid runners alternate days with walking or weight bearing exercises. If pain begins to creep in, the number one rule is to rest. Not bed rest, but you should definitely break from running for a while.

If there is a full-blown injury, a surgeon suggests as a part of resting that the injured use ice therapy. Do not leave an ice pack on for more than twenty minutes at a time. Over the counter drugs can be safely used under the direction of a doctor to curb the pain while an injury heals. Perhaps while healing a patient can engage in quadriceps exercises to build the muscles that support the knee.

Once back on the pavement, taping, bandaging, or brace stabilizing can be effective in keeping the knee in the correct place, though these do not replace the aforementioned strengthening exercises. They are the most important things to keep runners running.

If the injury is not nipped in the bud or properly treated, and sometimes even if it is, a patient may end up at the operating hands of a surgeon for arthroplasty. While a doctor would never suggest that you quit exercising, a knee surgeon knows that injury prevention is especially important for runners.