Knee Injuries & Sprinting

Sprinting requires a lot of power output from your leg muscles and places a tremendous amount of force on your knees. Strain on your leg muscles and knees combined with the sudden changes in direction and abrupt stops in sports creates a potential for knee injuries. These injuries include muscle strains, meniscus tears and knee sprains. Consult your health professional about preventing and treating knee injuries associated with sprinting in sports.

Knee Injuries

Common knee injuries among athletes include meniscus tears and knee sprains. A meniscus tear is a tear of the cartilage located between the bones of your knee. A knee sprain is when one or more of the ligaments around your knee becomes stretched or torn. The muscles around your knee, particularly your hamstrings, are also susceptible to tearing. Other knee injuries include patellofemoral pain syndrome, which is general knee pain, and iliotibilial band syndrome, which is inflammation of your iliotibial band, which attaches on the outside of your knee. Symptoms associated with knee injuries include swelling, pain, joint stiffness, muscle weakness and joint instability.

Sprinting

Sprinting requires powerful muscle contractions from your hamstrings and quadriceps muscles, which can result in a muscle tear and pull on your knee joint. A sudden stop or change in direction while sprinting in sports, such as football and basketball, can cause a meniscus tear or knee sprain. Risk factors for knee injuries while sprinting include poor conditioning, overtraining, previous knee injury, and misalignment of your ankle, knee and hip. A 2003 research article published in journal “Canadian Family Physician” also reports that weak and inflexible muscles of your thigh and calf can greatly increase your risk of injury, including knee injuries.

Treatment

To reduce your symptoms and promote healing, avoid painful activities, ice the affected area and wear a compression wrap. Take anti-inflammatory drugs and elevate your leg if swelling persists. Discuss with your physician other treatment options, such as a knee brace, physical therapy and surgery. For severe injuries, it may take four to 12 weeks before you can return to sprinting and normal activities.

Prevention

When you return to sprinting and other activities, your physician may advise you to temporarily wear a knee brace to reduce your risk of reinjury. Additionally, wear supportive shoes that provide adequate cushion; these can help maintain proper knee alignment and act as a shock absorber while sprinting. Orthotics may also be necessary if you have flat feet or high arches. Furthermore, perform a warmup and stretch before sprinting to maintain proper flexibility. Perform strength exercises, such as single-leg hops and lunges, to strengthen your leg muscles and protect your knees. Lastly, to prevent overexertion and reinjury of your knee and surrounding muscles, increase your running speed and distance slowly, focusing on one or the other at a time.