Can Treadmills Cause Knee Problems?

Treadmill running can be convenient for people who don't have access to safe roads or tracks to run on. It can also be easier to keep track of calories burned and distances covered, and treadmill walking or running can be done in all weathers. Although treadmill running usually provides a softer surface to run on, than road or track running, knee injuries can be sustained if you are not careful.

Causes of Knee Injuries

Knee injuries are usually caused by repetitive motion that the knee cannot adapt to. This can happen because of overtraining or bad walking/running techniques. When running or walking on a treadmill, it can be easy to slip into a steady, monotonous rhythm. This does not happen when running on other surfaces, as your stride and foot placement will vary according to ground conditions and obstacles in your path.

Running Technique

As the path moves under your feet during treadmill running or walking, it is not necessary to push forward with your feet. A running on the spot motion causes you to put that energy into pushing up rather than forward, which causes a larger impact on the knees when your foot falls. Coming down on your heel can also jar the body; if you find you have knee pain after running moving your landing point forward and developing a forefoot strike.

Runner's Knee

The most common knee injury in treadmill runners is called Patellofemoral syndrome, otherwise known as runner's knee. "Podiatry Today" describes the symptoms as pain toward the front of the knee, painful cracking and the knee sometimes giving way. It is usually caused by the foot rolling inward, a property that can be corrected with the correct running shoe. It can also be caused by wide hips, legs of slightly different lengths or weakness of the vastus medialis oblique muscle. A podiatrist can diagnose the condition, and corrective shoes or orthotics can be prescribed.

Importance of Good Running Shoes

A good pair of running shoes can prevent the majority of knee injuries. At a specialized running or triathlon store, a trained assistant can analyze your foot shape and footfall to establish which type of shoe would be right for you. Different running shoes offer different degrees of stability and can prevent unhealthy foot and knee movements.

Importance of Stretching

Stretching can also help to prevent treadmill originating knee problems. John Connors of "Podiatry Today" recommends stretching before and after exercise to lengthen muscles such as the hamstring. Shortened hamstrings are common in long distance treadmill runners, and can limit knee and hip mobility, shortening the stride. When your stride shortens you take more steps, meaning that your knees feel the impact of the treadmill more frequently.