Creaking Knees (The Cure)

Since becoming a runner I have noticed several different changes that have been taking place with my body. I have lost weight, the weight I am retaining is distributing more evenly as muscle, my blood pressure is down, my mood is better, and, best of all, my knees no longer creak.

During my 2 year mission I had a little accident during a competitive game of soccer (it was Brazilians vs Americans so of course I went all out). I ripped some ligaments just above my kneecap which caused some pretty bad swelling for about three weeks. There wasn't really a doctor I dared to see in Brazil so I just lived with it. With time it got better but even after my mission it would sometimes swell and give me problems. After speaking with a doctor after my mission, I knew this would be a problem my entire life. I was still able to run, play sports, etc., but I have always had more problems with it and creaking whenever I would bend over, often times including locking in my knee.

With all of these problems I figured my biggest challenge with being a distance runner would be dealing with my knee and the swelling. Last week, after a couple days of rest, I left my apartment, skipped downstairs, and bent over to tie my shoe before heading to school. As I rose to my feet to keep moving I stopped and thought, "Whoaaaaaaa.." My knee, which had given me so many problems, no longer creaked when I bent over. The swelling, which seemed to annoy me the most, also seemed to have disappeared. It was that moment that I discovered that running is the cure for creaky knees.

Now, I don't mean that jumping off the couch and running 5 miles with no prior preparation is going to save your knees, in fact you'll probably just hurt yourself; but a steady and slow starting routine with consistency just may change your knees as it did mine. On Saturday I ran 22 miles for the first time and ya know what? My knees gave my zero problems. Two days later and my knees still feel great (though I cannot say the same about my thighs!). It has been an incredible change in my life and one I thought worth sharing. Running may be hard, but the benefits always seem to outweigh the difficulties.

Give running a chance, maybe it can help your knees and your body in ways that you never imagined.