active network espn
Active Home | Directory | Community | eteamz | Results | Support Support | Event Directors & Organizers
Community: Exchange advice in the forums and read running commentary Resources: Personal running log, calculators, links and other tools for runners News: Running news from around the world Training: Articles and advice about fitness, race training and injury prevention Races/Results: Find upcoming races and past results Home: The Cool Running homepage
Cool Running homepage  Search Cool Running Community
Login to Reply
Click to view imamamaof2's profile Amateur
imamamaof2
19 posts since
Jul 8, 2006

Sep 10, 2006 4:51 PM

Popping Knees?

Hello,
I am in week 8 of c25k and am wondering about my knees. Before I started the program (and continuing now) my knees would pop and crackle when going up or down stairs. What causes that? I went to a PT about a year ago because of it and they had me doing exercises to build up my leg muscles; but I got tired of paying for the PT to watch me exercise while doing 5 other things (like talk on the phone or to co-workers...) so I stopped going.
Now after 8+ weeks of running my knees are still popping (seemingly no better or worse) and now my knees feel "weak" sometimes and it's hard to squat down and get up (not painful necessarily- just that weak, tired feeling).
Wondering what to do...
I don't want to stop running because I'm loving it so much but I don't want to be damaging me knees, either. I could go back to the PT or I was thinking of joining a gym and wonder if a trainer there could help me set up a plan to strengthen my legs to making my knees feel better?
Thanks for any advice!
Click to view imamamaof2's profile Amateur
imamamaof2
19 posts since
Jul 8, 2006
1. Sep 12, 2006 10:18 PM in response to: imamamaof2
Re: Popping Knees?
Anyone?
Login to Reply
Click to view imamamaof2's profile Amateur
imamamaof2
19 posts since
Jul 8, 2006
3. Sep 14, 2006 4:55 PM in response to: imamamaof2
Re: Popping Knees?
Thanks for the link. I haven't had time to read it all yet. I don't have pain when I do the test they mentioned but I'll read through the rest and give the stretches a try.
Thanks very much for your reply.
Login to Reply
Click to view skullengine's profile Amateur
skullengine
11 posts since
Aug 14, 2006
4. Sep 14, 2006 5:04 PM in response to: imamamaof2
Re: Popping Knees?
Hm, maybe I can be of some help.

I would get that same popping problem when going up stairs, or doing leg extensions at the gym. I also worked out my legs and stretched my hammies, but the pops didn't go away.

A trainer of mine told me once that it was just air in the joints, and not anything to be terribly worried about. I run just fine and don't have knee problems so long, again, as my hamstrings are stretched out and my quads strong.

But sometimes they just crunch around and sound awful. On those days I just try not to put a lot of stress on them, but running more has seemed to make them come less often.

Certainly, keep your eyes out for Runner's Knee--I had that several years ago and it stopped me from running for years.
Login to Reply
Click to view imamamaof2's profile Amateur
imamamaof2
19 posts since
Jul 8, 2006
5. Sep 17, 2006 7:31 PM in response to: imamamaof2
Re: Popping Knees?
Mine seem to pop more on some day than others. I hate the sound (akin to fingernails on the chalkboard...). They don't really hurt and definitely don't hurt more since I've started running. It's a tired/weak feeling that I have now. I did back off the mileage per run a bit over the last few days and didn't feel the same weakness afterward. Maybe I'll just build back up a little more slowly.
Thanks for your reply.
Login to Reply