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Runner’s knee seems to be the least likely injury to affect a businessperson, and that’s exactly why I brushed it off as something insignificant when it happened to me. I loved to spend my lunch hour running. I enjoyed being able to get up from my desk, get my blood flowing, and keep myself from gaining weight when I had to sit down for most of the time. That pain in my knee wasn’t a one-off from pushing myself a little too hard – it turned out to be runner’s knee. Once I spotted the problem, I started formulating the solution.

[tweetthis]Got #RunnersKnee? Here’s 4 lifestyle changes to overcome the pain. @rachelj423 #RunningShoes[/tweetthis]

I Went to Physiotherapy

As much as it hurt, I knew taking pain relievers wouldn’t do much to actually fix the problem. I started seeing a physiotherapist, and that’s where the real work began. I needed to treat the damaged tissue, and I had no idea how to do it on my own. The physiotherapist worked me through a list of helpful stretches and exercises to restore the strength to my injured knee. It took a few weeks and a lot of dedication before that part of the process was completely over with, but it would have taken much longer had I not turned to her for help.

I Started Eating Better

I wanted to give my body what it needed to heal. I was most concerned with improving my joint health, since joints often deal with the brunt of the impact from running. I wanted to change my diet to incorporate the nutrients I needed. Omega-3 foods are very important for a lot of things, including joint health. I started snacking on walnuts and ate fish three times a week. I also needed glucosamine and chondroitin, which are typically only found in the shells of crustaceans and offal. I decided my stomach wasn’t that strong, and used a supplement to cover those needs.

I Switched Up My Gear

I definitely needed better shoes. The ones I was wearing to run weren’t really designed for me – they were a half size too big rather than wide, and they didn’t provide the right kind of arch support I needed. I went and got fitted for real running shoes. They were pricey, but they were worth the money. I started briskly walking in them to see how it felt, and even walking felt easier than it did in my old shoes. The shock absorption was a lot better, and going up an incline didn’t feel as tense in my muscles and joints anymore.

I Changed My Approach to Running

I used to like to push myself by alternating speed and pace. This is called high intensity interval training (HIIT), and it actually helps burn more calories. I still do that, but I don’t take it to the extreme anymore. Picking up the pace just a little bit can have the same affect without the stress on my knee. I also started taking more time to cool down in between new levels of running. Smaller progress milestones are easier to measure and easier to recover from. I’m slowly graduating to a newer level of athletic ability, and my knee is thanking me for it.

Overall, I’m glad I didn’t call it quits just because of runner’s knee. It took a while to get back out there, but I needed to do it. I wouldn’t skip my lunch break run for anything, and now I don’t need to.

 

About Author: Rachel Jackson is a mother of 2 beautiful boys. She loves to hike and write about travelling, education and healthy lifestyle. She works for NYBizDb – an online resource of relevant business information.

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