Does running strenghthen your knees?

[ChrisMack]

Does running strengthen your knees? Some one told me it is good because of the body weight/impact and helps to build them up (my knees are fucked :dead:) But ive also heard it ruins your knees.
Thoughts?

[compleks]

Running on hard surfaces isn't the best thing for your knees.

I wouldn't take up running to strengthen your knees, take up squatting instead.

[Silthanas]

There was a study done just recently that showed that runners where less likely than non runners to get austeoarthritis in the knees. This was due mainly to the fact that if you are sedentar and fat, your not great, but also, supposedly, the act of running opens and closes the joints and kind of flushes them out. I would have to reread the article understand, and I haven't read any supporting articles. And there is no doubt that if you don't know how to run (yes, people need to learn how to run correctly) you can easily pick up an oversuse injury, surfaces like concrete of course will exacerbate this possibility.
I think I would definately stick with strengthening the muscles which act on the knee through resistence training. Squats, (especially single leg variations) lunges, romanian crap, etc.
Now, what I'm not sure about, is whether it is useful or not to have a thick casing of muscle for protection (I am guessing in most if not all cases not) or if the best protection is strong muscles.

[Honken]

Osteoarthritis.

[Rudy]

running doesn't do anything for you knees except make them hurt

[Kitosho]

Jogging is horribly gay and not at all how people are supposed to move. Sprinting or walking are best.

[Sergis]

or interval running.

[Honken]

or interval running.

... Yes please repeat others.

[thereid]

Jogging is only good for a morning warm up after waking up IMO.

[Sergis]

... Yes please repeat others.

You think I should?

[Ashtar]

In theory it could strengthen them, but for most people it's more likely to dmg them. There was a recent thing on t-mag combining all the author's rants about 'train so you can run' and about how most noobs to training shouldn't run and instead be doing weighted leg stuff first.

[ChrisMack]

Thanks guys very helpful :smile: i think ill just stick to squats for strengthening.

[AjStyles]

Do kicking everyday can strenghtern your leg and make your leg damn strong.

[TrooBach]

Here's one for you....

When I am walking or running up the stairs, I can feel something cracking in my left knee... I can hear it cracking too, but I feel no pain. It is very anoying though.....
What should I do and what could possibly coused it?

[Steve]

My knees were actually strengthened when I started running, guys. No lower patellar problems anymore.

[Shaedar]

My right knee is fucked.
When I stop running I can hardly do a squat. It hurts like fuck.

[Steve]

Yes, when I stop doing various physical activities I rapidly degenerate into a pile of organs also.

[Shaedar]

warm up
running
cool down
stretching

It hurts only when I bend it for more than 60 degrees (approx.), but it stops after a few reps. It's been like this for two months now.

[Steve]

By my statement I mean over a longer period of time of course, not just after I finish the session. I am actually invincible.

[Shaedar]

By my statement I mean squat-disabling pain, not lack of strenght.

[anfeyd]

warm up
running
cool down
stretching

It hurts only when I bend it for more than 60 degrees (approx.), but it stops after a few reps. It's been like this for two months now.

Im willing to bet your squat form isn't good which exacerbates the problem.

[Shaedar]

I'm not squating for strenght when I stop running, I do a few very slow, basic squats without weights, just to "stretch" my knees.

[chicanerous]

Your knees are a joint. You don't stretch joints.

[Kon-El]

he put quotes around the word. that makes it ok...

[Rahf]

Here's one for you....

When I am walking or running up the stairs, I can feel something cracking in my left knee... I can hear it cracking too, but I feel no pain. It is very anoying though.....
What should I do and what could possibly coused it?

Probably harmless, I get the same thing when I'm squatting.

"1..2..3 Squat!"

*CREEEEAAAAK* CRAAACCK*

"Nice one J".

[Ashtar]

he put quotes around the word. that makes it ok...
Agreed, it seemed like a way of expressing that he was putting the knee throughmore range of motion than normal, 'stretching' his range of motion, and the knee joint does have a range of motion to expand. In this case, flexing it in a hip-flexed state under load to the extensor muscles.

Do kicking everyday can strenghtern your leg and make your leg damn strong.Hm... 'can' yes. So can jumping up and down repetetively for a long time.