Skating allows quick transportation while providing substantial aerobic exercise and entertainment. However, the repetitive actions of skating -- whether on the ground or on the ice -- place stress on the knee joint, especially in extreme skating or trick skating. This can cause varying amounts of damage to the different tissues of the knees, often resulting in soreness or pain.
Muscles Involved
Skating relies on the muscles of your calves, hamstrings, quadriceps -- and most other muscles in your legs and feet -- to propel your body forward on your skate. Six specific muscles attach to or near the knee, which can be a cause for knee soreness if the muscles have not been used for a while, or if the muscles are pulled or torn. These muscles include the vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, vastus medialis, peroneus longus, tibialis anterior and the gastrocnemius.
Ligaments Involved
Sore knees can develop due to ligament injuries from skating. Your ligaments are fibrous connective tissue that connect bones or hold joints together. Intense sessions of skating can place pressure on the posterior and anterior cruciate ligaments -- often referred to as your ACL and PCL -- that provide stability to your knee joint. Another ligament that may be affected by skating is the medial collateral ligament, which experiences stress when lateral force is placed on the knee. The repetitive motion of skating or the intensity of skating can stretch these ligaments or cause inflammation, leading to soreness or instability of the knee joint.
Meniscal Tears
The menisci are two pieces of cartilage that absorb the shock produced on the knee joint through activities like walking or skating, as well as prevent friction within your joint. The stress applied to your menisci during skating can produce a tear, resulting in pain and soreness within your knee joint.
Treatment
When dealing with sore knees, rest your legs. Resting allows time for the affected tissue in your knees to heal. Wrapping an ice pack in a towel and placing it on your knee can also be effective at reducing soreness, especially if swelling is present on the knee. You can also elevate the knee to a level above your heart to encourage draining, as well as can place a compression bandage around the knee to help reduce any associated swelling. If pain continues, you can take an over-the-counter pain or anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen, aspirin, acetaminophen or naproxen sodium. If pain and inflammation continue, see your doctor, as your knee may be injured enough to need medical treatment.
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