Jogging and Running
Jogging and running have benefits for both body and mind. Great calorie burners, they also clear your mind and renew your spirit, offering the much vaunted “runner’s high.” They can, however, take a real toll on the knees unless you take precautions. As discussed in the preceding section, good shoes are a must, and you should replace them regularly if you are a frequent or long-distance runner. Carefully consider your running surface—a dirt track is better than a concrete one, and flat or uphill running is preferable to downhill. Most runners do pay attention to these factors.
Another predictor of potential knee problems as a runner is your physical build. Q angle (quadriceps angle) is measured by drawing a line from your anterior iliac spine (the bump on your pelvis above and in front of your hip joint) to the center of your kneecap, and a second line from your kneecap to the tibial tuberosity (the little bump at the top of the tibia where the patellar tendon attaches to your tibia). A wide Q angle would be more than 15 degrees and might be found on extremely broad-hipped women. Such an angle may increase the likelihood of “runner’s knee” (patellofemoral syndrome), because it predisposes a person to run with the knees pushed inward (knock kneed). The resultant strain loosens the patellar tendon and its collagenous attachments and weakens their hold on the patella. The patella may then move off its track on the femur, resulting in pain and inflammation. A wide Q angle does not always cause pain and is not a reason to stop running, however; its effects can be adjusted by the use of orthotics or braces.
Jogging and running have benefits for both body and mind. Great calorie burners, they also clear your mind and renew your spirit, offering the much vaunted “runner’s high.” They can, however, take a real toll on the knees unless you take precautions. As discussed in the preceding section, good shoes are a must, and you should replace them regularly if you are a frequent or long-distance runner. Carefully consider your running surface—a dirt track is better than a concrete one, and flat or uphill running is preferable to downhill. Most runners do pay attention to these factors.
Another predictor of potential knee problems as a runner is your physical build. Q angle (quadriceps angle) is measured by drawing a line from your anterior iliac spine (the bump on your pelvis above and in front of your hip joint) to the center of your kneecap, and a second line from your kneecap to the tibial tuberosity (the little bump at the top of the tibia where the patellar tendon attaches to your tibia). A wide Q angle would be more than 15 degrees and might be found on extremely broad-hipped women. Such an angle may increase the likelihood of “runner’s knee” (patellofemoral syndrome), because it predisposes a person to run with the knees pushed inward (knock kneed). The resultant strain loosens the patellar tendon and its collagenous attachments and weakens their hold on the patella. The patella may then move off its track on the femur, resulting in pain and inflammation. A wide Q angle does not always cause pain and is not a reason to stop running, however; its effects can be adjusted by the use of orthotics or braces.
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