HOW TO AVOID KNEE PROBLEMS IN RUNNING

The answer to this question is really a lot simpler than it seems, but still so many runners are plagued with various knee injuries.

Today we answer this question for you, hoping that you will benefit right away and continue running with pleasure instead of pain.

So, how to avoid knee problems in running? First, you have to understand the correct role of the knee in running and, second, use the proper running technique. Just think, if you don't know how to use something and don't understand the intended way of using it, there is a strong chance that you will damage it in some way or, worse, break it.

An incredible number of knee injuries among runners of all levels today, and since the beginning of the running boom in the 70-ies, is a clear indicator of the fact that runners constantly misuse their knees and don't know how to stop doing it. Why? No other reason than a pure lack of understanding of the subject at hand.

By learning the Pose Method® of Running, any runner could get a better grasp on the subject of running. And since the Pose® running technique is currently, the only running method in the world scientifically proven to reduce impact on knees by 50%, it can help you gain the best understanding of the true role of the knees in running. Knowing what they are for and how they really work, won't let you bluntly misuse them, and your knees will thank you for it.

The knee is a joint and is one of the most important joints of our body. A joint is "the movable or fixed place or part where two bones or elements of a skeleton join" (Dictionary.com).

In running, it plays an essential role in movement related to carrying the body weight in the horizontal direction. However, contrary to the traditional belief that knee is a joint producing the most power output for the forward propulsion, through, the so called, "push off" motion, the action related to an active unbending or straightening of the knee of the support leg, in the Pose Method® of Running it is taught that the real function of the knee in running is flexion.

As we mentioned at the beginning, bad running technique is also to blame for knee pain. Landing ahead of your body which is bad for more reasons than one, is a single mistake in running technique, responsible for the worst knee injuries known. Primarily an attribute of heal-striking, it also happens in forefoot or midfoot-striking. So, it is something you have to consciously work on and there are specific drills that can help you overcome this.

Here are a few simple rules to keep in mind when running and you will have less or no knee pain at all.

• DON'T STRAIGHTEN OR UNBEND YOUR KNEES, LET THEM FLEX
• DON'T LAND AHEAD OF YOUR BODY
• LAND ON THE BALL OF YOUR FOOT UNDER YOUR BODY WITH A FLEXED KNEE

The last rule, is actually the S-stance in the Pose Method® of Running. That is the key pose that allows for the most efficient energy transfer, i.e. movement, in running.

Article by Dr. Nicholas Romanov
Composed by L. Romanov