Knee pain is the most common running related injury. There are many different causes of knee pain including: Patellar Femoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS); Iliotibial Band pain (IT Band); Patellar Tendinitis; and meniscus injuries.
The root cause of many of the most common knee related issues is hip weakness. The hip abductors and hip external (lateral) rotators are very important for knee control and stability. When weakness is present in these groups of muscles, pain is often felt down the kinetic chain (particularly, in the knee).
One of the best ways to treat many common running aches and pains is to focus on strengthening these muscles which include the gluteus medius, the tensor fascia latae, and the other deep hip rotators.
In this video, I demonstrate how to perform the clamshell exercise. It’s an excellent non-weight bearing exercise to work on hip rotator strength which will directly affect knee stability. In the video, I use a red exercise band. As you progress, you could transition to a thicker band to increase the resistance and difficulty of the exercise.
Looking for more comprehensive information on how to self-treat and prevent the most common running related injuries? I have teamed up with Angie Spencer (RN and Certified Running Coach) and Trevor Spencer (co-host of the Marathon Training Academy Podcast) to give you the tools to become a Resilient Runner.
In the Resilient Runner program, we explain injury prevention strategies to keep you running. We provide detailed videos and rehabilitation guides on how to effectively SELF-TREAT each problem area of the body including:
- Lower Back Pain and Piriformis
- Hip: Hip Bursitis and Hip Flexor Pain
- Upper Leg: Iliotibial Band and Hamstring Injury
- Knee Pain: Patellar Femoral Pain Syndrome (Runner’s Knee); Patellar Tendinitis; and Meniscus Injury
- Lower Leg and Foot: Achilles Tendinitis; Plantar Fasciitis; Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction; Shin Splints; and Stress Fractures
The Resilient Runner program is designed to help YOU meet YOUR training goals by insuring you have the tools to avoid injury, recover quickly, and train at a peak level.
It’s a virtual library of self-treatment protocols including downloadable podcasts, videos, and .pdf files of rehabilitation guides. It also includes a 320 page eBook, The Resilient Runner, Prevention and Self-Treatment Guide to Common Running Related Injuries.
Trying the exercises for my painful knee and hip pain
This is a great exercise to address knee pain that is caused from poor mechanics due to hip weakness. There are other potential causes of knee pain, so be sure to use the search button on the website to find more articles on how to treat knee pain. Good luck, and I hope you’re pain free soon! Ben