Ooh, going downstairs the following day!...knees ouch

[RunforMum]

Hi, I realise no medical advice can or should be given here, but oooh, going down stairs the next day! Also tiny tiny bits of swelling on the front outside of knee which go down after a rest day of care. I'm trying to improve my leg/knee strength with my yoga practices but am curious to hear others' experiences before I start the longer, consistent runs (just did wk6r2). Family member is a physio so might give her a call for advice!

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate]

Oh no! Have you had any pain or discomfort while you’re running? I would talk to your physio family member. It’s usually worth getting anything like this checked out, and if you’ve go expertise freely available, take advantage of it!

I’m not at all saying you have this, but I’ve currently got issues with my IT bands and the location of your pain and the fact it’s worse going downhill sounds quite familiar. My knee pain is being caused by problems at my hips but I needed a physio to identify that and to tell me how to fix it.

You’ll run for a lot of years to come and it’s definitely worth nipping issues like this in the bud early before they stop you in your tracks. In the meantime, I’d be taking extra rest days and making sure not to run through any pain. Really good luck to you!

[RunforMum Graduate in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Thanks...will do. No, no pain whilst running and no pain in general, just sore going down stairs! It does resolve pretty quickly and I had it at the start of this journey but it improved with ice and running on grass. I think it's coming back because of the increase in minutes.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate in reply to RunforMum]

Definitely worth a conversation-I hope you get some answers! Sending best wishes and recovery thoughts your way!

[nowster Graduate]

Slight discomfort in the joints is normal (typically when going down stairs) at the very start of doing C25K, especially if you've never run before, but never pain.

By week 6 you should be over that. Definitely chat with that family member.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Well done you for getting this far... and having had some great advice already, do get it checked out... x

[Pugwash Graduate]

A discussion with a medical profession will, hopefully, give you the reassurance you seek. Post exercise aches and pains are normal but shouldn't be ignored. Remember - 'slow and steady wins the race'! Bon chance😀👍

[Sax64 Graduate]

Hi , well done for getting started, and like many others, I suggest you get it checked out if the issue persists. A few years ago, before I became a runner, I had similar issues with going down stairs, walking downhill and the like. Eventually I went to the GP who referred me to a physio. It turned out it was my hips out of alignment, nothing to do with my knees and he gave me a set of exercises and also suggested I wear patella bands whilst exercising. The physio is a slow process for the body to adapt, but it worked. I'm now pain free, fully mobile, running , no need for the bands anymore but still keeping up with the exercises, just in case. Your issue may be nothing like mine but all the same, an expert opinion and advice can work wonders. Good luck with C25K and hope the pain goes away soon.

[RunforMum Graduate]

I attempted week 6 run 3 today but didn't quite make it - stopped after 20 minutes....my knees were fine and appear to be fine after stopping, (thanks to a visit to an osteo/sports injury person who did some treatment and gave recommendations - thanks all for that good advice). No, I THINK the reason for stopping was the gap between runs...in waiting to be sure knees were OK, I've left 5 or 6 days ... still, I did 20mins, which is great. I'll try again in a couple of days.