Localized knee pain after running

Question
Hello John,
I see that you have answered a number of questions about knee pain associated with running but I didn't see anything that specifically answered my question. I am 29 years old and in good shape (I'm a competitive swimmer) and I recently took up running. I started with about 2km runs and recently got up to about 6kms. After my first longer run (6k), I felt fine, but the very next time I started running, I had pain in the inside of one knee so I stopped. I didn't run for a week and then went again. I felt pain in both knees but decided to push through it (probably not good) and the pain went away, but as soon as I got home, I realized that both knees were really aching, both on the inside. The next day, they still hurt, both in the same place. If I push on one localized area on the inside of the knee (at the largest part of the knee), I can find the exact location of the pain. It hurts to touch. Can you tell me what might be causing this and what I can do to prevent it?  

Answer
Hi Mary
You might be in great shape,but the way the musculature responds to running is different than swimming,especially from the waist down.A good majority of problems associated with the knee is do to improper tracking like a train on the railroad track.It creates a host of problems.The knee joint is composed of many intricate parts that must function smoothly to produce the fluid motion of running.If any one of these structures becomes inflamed,the delicate balance of the knee is disrupted,and a runner can no longer function without discomfort.Most of the problems usually happen to the individual starting out,and the body can't adapt to the level you have settle into.Your situation is probably a few things such as tendinitis,bursitis(bursa's)imflamed,irritated,ligaments,fasciitis(the tissue surounding the muscles and ligaments.First thing you have to cut back and don't increase your miles so quickly and keep the pace down..Number two start doing quad work to help with tracking.Exercise bike is excellent for this along with leg extentions.Third ice area after all workots till it starts to disipate.Start adding 500mg of vitimin C to your three meals a day for strengthening conective tissue tendons cells etc.Fourth be patience and let your body adapt to your new program and get back to me and let me know how it's going.

The very best to you
Mary

John
www.rentacoachinternational.com