Running and Keeping Your Knees Safe

Running is one of the healthiest activities on the planet. On the other hand, it also comes with its downsides. One such downside is the effect it has on your knees. If you bring this issue up to most doctors, they will tell you not to worry about it and that your heart is much more important than your knees. Their argument is that you can replace your knee, but you cannot replace your heart. That makes sense. At the same time, they’re not the ones who will have to pay the medical bill when you need knee surgery.

If you have been running on concrete, it’s only a matter of time before you run into a problem with your knees. That is, of course, unless you’re very lucky. Think about it logically. Your legs are repeatedly crashing into a hard surface. Wear and tear is going to eventually be a factor. The good news is that there is a way to protect your knees, or at least to slow down the damage.

The best way to protect your knees is to run on a track. This is a soft surface that gives. It can get boring and even crowded, but the positives outweigh the negatives. If there is a dirt path you can run on, you’ve got it made. That’s even better because you have a soft surface, nice scenery and not many people. If these options aren’t available to you, set up cones in your backyard and run laps. It’s convenient, safe, effective and never crowded.

Saturday ~ May 05, 2011 by admin

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