Robin Taliaferro serves as the founder and CEO of Corporate Officer Tax Strategies, LLC, in San Jose, California. He established this company more than two decades ago. Outside of work, Robin Taliaferro enjoys competitive running and participated in the 2005 Santa Barbara Grand Prix event.
A common issue facing many runners is knee pain. In fact, it’s believed that anywhere from 30 to 50 percent of all runners experience knee pain every year. Fortunately, this pain can be avoided in various ways.
Perhaps the easiest way of eliminating knee pain is changing running technique. Good running form involves standing upright and keeping the legs below the torso. As runners move, their knees should never lift upwards toward the body. Instead, it’s best if they take shallow steps that keep the feet under the body, and lift only the heel of each foot. This enables runners to avoid striking the ground with their heels, an activity that increases impact on the knees and often leads to knee pain.
Meanwhile, it’s also important that runners keep their knees soft as they run. This is easily accomplished by never straightening the legs during a run. Doing so minimizes impact to the knee and heel. It’s also important that the feet are pointed in the direction that runners are going so their knees are not twisted.
A change in equipment and training can also reduce knee pain in runners. In terms of equipment, runners need shoes that not only provide good cushioning, but also fit each person’s foot properly. Some runners, for instance, have wider feet than others, so they need wider shoes. Meanwhile, cross-training keeps the body balanced by strengthening multiple types of muscles and not just those involved in running.
A common issue facing many runners is knee pain. In fact, it’s believed that anywhere from 30 to 50 percent of all runners experience knee pain every year. Fortunately, this pain can be avoided in various ways.
Perhaps the easiest way of eliminating knee pain is changing running technique. Good running form involves standing upright and keeping the legs below the torso. As runners move, their knees should never lift upwards toward the body. Instead, it’s best if they take shallow steps that keep the feet under the body, and lift only the heel of each foot. This enables runners to avoid striking the ground with their heels, an activity that increases impact on the knees and often leads to knee pain.
Meanwhile, it’s also important that runners keep their knees soft as they run. This is easily accomplished by never straightening the legs during a run. Doing so minimizes impact to the knee and heel. It’s also important that the feet are pointed in the direction that runners are going so their knees are not twisted.
A change in equipment and training can also reduce knee pain in runners. In terms of equipment, runners need shoes that not only provide good cushioning, but also fit each person’s foot properly. Some runners, for instance, have wider feet than others, so they need wider shoes. Meanwhile, cross-training keeps the body balanced by strengthening multiple types of muscles and not just those involved in running.