Just finished Week 3 Run 3 and the outside of my knee hurts - do you think I need physio or rest?

[Learning_to_run]

Hi everyone...56 year old...first time runner! I’m amazing myself with my success so far...and even more, I’m discovering a love of running (and Michael Johnson!). However, during yesterday’s run, the outside part of my left knee kept twinging and hurting...something soft, not bone. I was devastated because I’ve had major foot problems this last twelve months (metatarsalgia, plantar fasciitis , Morton’s neuroma, bursitis,...yes, all at the same time). One year of treatment including orthotics, painful foot injections and only wearing specialist Footwear). After all that I don’t want to stop because of my knee! Any tips?

[linda9389 Graduate]

Oh no. How disappointing! I had to stop my first attempt at C25K with knee problems. But it made me more determined and I have had no further issues.

I have no medical background, but outside knee pain knee might be an IT band issue (common for runners). Try rest first, but a physio would be really good at finding any underlying issue. If your foot problems were all one side you may well have been compensating which can have caused tightness elsewhere which is now manifesting as knee pain. A physio should find this and can give you stretches/strengthening excercises to fix the underlying issue. I hope it heals quickly. Good luck 🤞

[Learning_to_run in reply to linda9389]

Thanks Linda....I left 4 days between W3/3 and W4/1 just to see if the knee held up and it did! I had two worries when I did the run today...first could I do it at all (W4 is a big step up from W3) and then would my knee be ok. I found that it was fine until I fatigued...so 4 mins into the 5 min runs, it started to hurt a little. That has told me that so long as I keep my muscles surrounding the knee strong and supportive I should be ok. I’m going to speak to my foot physio next week nonetheless just to get some advice on the best exercises.

Many thanks for your encouragement.

[linda9389 Graduate in reply to Learning_to_run]

Oh, good news indeed! If you already have contact with a physio that's great - definitely a question to ask. Good luck 🙂