A Stiff Knee After Running - How to Survive This Pain! Brace Yourself

What To Do About A Stiff Knee After Running

A stiff knee after running could be can be caused by several different conditions, some of which include:

1.) An Injured ligament
2.) Osteoarthritis of the knee
3.) Rheumatoid arthritis
4.) Other arthritis of the knee

To find out the exact reason why you are experiencing a stiff knee after running, you need to speak to a doctor. Your doctor will perform an examination of the knee and will do an x-ray of the joint to get to the root of the matter. The course of action and treatment that will be recommended to you will depend on the condition of your knee as well as your own general health.

Injured Ligament

An injured ligament can cause pain as well as a stiff knee after running. An injured ligament usually presents with immediate pain and swelling. If the cause of the stiffness in the knee is an injured ligament, then the doctor will prescribe rest and perhaps a knee brace when you walk to prevent further injury. The meaningful support that these braces can provide can actually help reduce your pain as well.

Runners often are prone to injury of the knee and like many other athletes, are often advised to wear a knee brace to prevent such injuries from occurring.

Osteoarthritis of the Knee

This is an incurable condition that can affect anyone. It is similar to arthritis but attacks the knees, gradually weakening them. Contrary to popular misconception, osteoarthritis does not discriminate. Anyone can get osteoarthritis of the knee - it is not just limited to older people.

Treatment for this condition ranges from wearing a brace and using anti-inflammatory drugs to surgery, depending on the age of the person who has this condition as well as the severity of the problem. However, surgery is usually the last resort after more conservative treatment has been exhausted.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Unlike other forms of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune disease in which the body actually attacks itself. It can affect anyone of any age, including children. It is thought to be a hereditary disease so children who complain about a stiff knee after running often should be taken to a pediatrician, especially if they have a parent with this condition. Rheumatoid arthritis is treated with medication and braces for support. Arthritis

Arthritis is commonly associated with older people and is more prevalent in people who are over the age of 50. Arthritis is usually treated with over the counter pain medication as well as exercises. (Speak with your physician about any medications you are taking, or plan to take.) As your physician may have told you, keeping the knee active can actually help you to lessen the stiffness you suffer from and possible prevent knee deformity.

Only a doctor can diagnose the reason for a stiff knee after running. If you are diagnosed with one of the above conditions, your doctor should want to treat the matter conservatively, rather than rush into surgery. Knee surgery is not always successful, carries some risks and also takes months of rehab before the knee can go back in action. Moreover, it is also very costly. Knee surgery should only be the last resort when you want to treat a stiff knee after running. That too, it should only be considered after more conservative treatment options such as anti-inflammatory drugs (speak with your physician), knee braces and exercises have been exhausted.