Even if you’re not an athlete, knee strain or sprain can take you out of the game for a while.
To avoid knee injury and the long recovery process, the best strategy is prevention.
Here are some tips to help spare your knees:
- Strength training and gentle stretching can help stabilize the knees.
- Cross-train. Overuse and constant repetition can cause knee injuries, so choose a wide range of exercises. In addition to strength training, others include walking up stairs and riding a bike.
- Watch for clues such as fatigue or knee pain that let you know you should rest.
- Wear running shoes with adequate cushioning; if the padding has worn down, it’s time to replace them.
- While running, avoid coming to a quick stop.
- Tread lightly; don’t “pound the ground.”
- Don’t bend your knees past 90 degrees when doing bends or squats.
Source: 2014 LLUH “Live it” health and wellness calendar