Do your knees hurt after exercising?
Knee pain is one of the most common issues affecting active individuals, especially recreational runners. But don’t be so quick to blame your knees for the pain. It may not be their fault.
Bad knees are often the result of a problem elsewhere in your body, and frequently, weak hips are the cause.
A new report published online in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy tracked approximately 630 runners from Denmark for one year. Runners were evaluated on hip abduction strength (strength of hips measured when extending legs out to the side) as well as distance/miles run. Although the relationship between hips and knees has been examined for years, this new study is one of the largest to date directly linking hip health and knee pain.
Strong hip muscles help control leg motion and protect knees while running or exercising. In comparison, weak hips can cause knees to fall slightly inward adding unnecessary stress on the joint and leads to inflammation and pain over time.
To strengthen hip muscles, and help reduce knee pain, add some core exercises and repetitions of controlled leg movement to your workout.
If your knee pain persists and is severe, contact one of our specialists.
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