knee pain

The Quiet Power of Acceptance: Recovery as the Foundation for Resilience

Woman in Acceptance in Recovery

When it comes to building a strong foundation for wellness, most of us don’t immediately think about the power of acceptance in recovery. But understanding and embracing this vital skill is the key to sustainable health—a lesson that supports not just our bodies but our mindset as well.

Why Acceptance in Recovery Matters

We live in a world that values more—more steps, more reps, more improvement—but less appreciation for necessary pauses. Acceptance in recovery isn’t about settling; it’s recognizing where you truly are, granting yourself permission to rest, and letting your body rebuild. This is where deep, lasting progress begins. Reminder that you’re on the right path—reach out. You’re not alone.

How to Practice Acceptance for Better Results

It’s simple, but not always easy. Try these steps this week:

  1. Pause: Take a gentle breath and notice what’s happening inside your body.
  2. Reflect: Identify what form of rest or slow movement calls to you—maybe a walk, restorative stretching, or even a day off.
  3. Trust: Honor your answer, no matter how different it might look from your usual “best.”

Example: On busy weeks, our core Santa Fe members sometimes use guided fascia work instead of a traditional workout. This is real progress.

The Science Behind Rest and Adaptation

Your muscles, fascia, and nervous system all require downtime to strengthen and adapt. Studies like this one from Rest and recovery for athletes – physiological & psychological well-being show that real resilience comes not just from stress, but from quality recovery as well.

Building Sustainable Health Over Time

Accepting the need for rest now actually sets you up for even better results later. Consistent recovery is the building block of longevity and vitality—for deeper science on holistic progress, see our resource:
The Ultimate Guide For A Holistic Exercises And Fitness Program 

Acceptance is the quiet, powerful force that allows you to age well, stay resilient, and enjoy your body longer. This week, choose at least one act of kindness for your body and trust that recovery is where progress truly begins.

If you want tips on restorative movement or ways to integrate rest, just reach out. You’re not alone on this path. Schedule a one-on-one consult to see how you can use holistic exercise and fitness to give your body what it needs. Complimentary consultation.

Follow the Thread—Where Movement, Fascia, and Freedom Align

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Gardening. The Unwanted Effects On Your Body.

🌱 Gardening Hurts? How to Protect Your Body While Doing What You Love

Gardening brings joy to so many people — the satisfaction of growing your own food or flowers, the quiet peace of working in the soil. But for many, it also brings back pain, neck stiffness, sore knees, or overall fatigue. It doesn’t have to be that way.

I’m Ekemba Sooh, owner of SolCore Fitness. I’ve been in the health and fitness field for over 30 years, working under the osteopathic model. And here’s what I want you to know:

Gardening is a sport. It’s physically demanding. And like any sport, if you don’t prepare your body for it, you’ll pay for it.

In this blog, I’ll break down:

Simple things you can do to avoid injury and feel better

Why gardening leads to pain

What’s really happening to your knees, back, and spine

Click on the image to watch the video

🌻 Gardening is More Demanding Than You Think

Here’s what most people miss: gardening places a huge load on the body.

You’re squatting, bending, twisting, lifting, and often holding these positions for long periods. That’s a combination of:

  • External load (heavy pots, rocks, plants)
  • Postural load (static crouching, awkward angles)
  • Repetitive strain (hours of weeding, digging)

One of my clients — an art teacher — came to me years ago with chronic pain. After months of work, she felt great and was living her life again… until one weekend she gardened for five hours straight. No warm-up. No cool-down. She undid months of progress in one afternoon.

This isn’t about fear — it’s about awareness.

🦵 Your Knees: Why Squatting Hurts Later

Gardening involves constant squatting, both dynamic and static. The knee joint is most stable at 90 degrees — but once you drop lower, things start to rub.

A law in biomechanics called Delpech’s Law tells us that high pressure on a surface leads to the body producing more tissue. In the knees, this can lead to roughened cartilage, causing pain, grinding, and inflammation — especially if you do it over and over without support.

🧍‍♂️ Your Lower Back: Lever Arms & Fascia Fatigue

Ever notice how heavy things feel when you’re bent forward? That’s the lever arm principle. The further out the weight (or your torso), the more strain on your lower back.

From your belly button to your pelvis, you don’t have bones to hold things together. Your fascia — soft tissue layers — does the job. But fascia needs to be hydrated, supple, and trained to support load.

If your fascia isn’t prepped, long hours in bent-over positions can overwhelm it. That leads to tightness, spasms, or worse.

🌀 Your Spine: Why Flexing and Twisting Are Dangerous

Most gardening tasks involve two risky combinations:

  • Flexion + Rotation (scooping dirt, weeding)
  • Extension + Rotation (reaching up and twisting)

Both compress the spine’s joints and increase the risk of disc issues like bulges, herniations, or pinched nerves — especially if your spine isn’t stabilized by surrounding muscles and fascia.

This isn’t about avoiding movement. It’s about training your body to handle those movements safely.

🏋️‍♀️ What You Can Do to Prevent Gardening Injuries

Here are the three keys to keeping your body pain-free while gardening:

1. Train Like It’s a Sport

You wouldn’t try to deadlift 500 pounds without a program, right? Gardening is no different. Your body needs a holistic strength and mobility plan based on what you’re asking it to do — not just general workouts, but targeted prep for your spine, knees, pelvis, and fascia.

2. Warm Up Before Gardening

Your body is like an old car — it needs a few minutes to “rev the engine.” A proper warm-up turns on your muscular and neurological systems, thins out the fluids in your joints and fascia, and helps prevent injury.

Here’s a short warm-up that targets the most stressed areas:

👣 Knees

  • Knee Circles (clockwise and counterclockwise)
  • Figure 8s (vertical and horizontal)
    These gentle movements lubricate the joint and prep ligaments for squatting.

🧘 Pelvis

  • Pelvic Rocks in a wide-stance position with knees bent and torso upright. Helps activate the hips and lumbar spine.

🌀 Spine

  • Torso Translations & Tilts with arms in external rotation. Warms the ribcage and mid-back while protecting from over-compression.

Just 5–7 minutes of this can drastically improve how your body handles the demands of gardening.

3. Recover After Gardening

You’ve loaded the system — now you have to unload it. Stretch the areas you used. Use fascia-specific movements or myofascial stretches to rebalance the body. Don’t just sit down and let it tighten up.

Using Osteopathic manual therapy techniques like TTLS, work with the body and speed up healing to regain function.

🌿 Want to Keep Gardening for Life?

If gardening brings you joy, it’s worth protecting. And if you want help, I’ve got 3 easy ways to start:

Let me help you garden smarter, not harder — and keep doing what you love for years to come.

Building a foundation for a better life.

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How To Overcome Plantar Fasciitis And Reclaim Your Mobility

rying to live your life with plantar fasciitis is no fun—especially when the treatments you find make things worse. Sound familiar?

Maybe you’ve searched for plantar fasciitis exercises or plantar fasciitis treatments, but instead of relief, you ended up in more pain. That’s because most approaches only treat the symptom, not the cause.

I want to help you change that.

Click the image to watch the video

What Is Plantar Fasciitis… Really?

Let’s keep it simple:
Plantar fasciitis is an inflammatory process in the fascia and soft tissue layers of your feet. These layers are supposed to slide and flow freely. When they stick together, inflammation builds—and pain follows, especially in the heel and bottom of the foot.

The worst part? You have to walk, so you’re constantly irritating the area.

Why Most Treatments Fail

Let’s get real: a lot of common plantar fasciitis treatments do more harm than good.

Here’s why:

  • Graston Technique:
    A metal tool that scrapes tissue like you’re removing paint. It crushes fascia tubes instead of helping them glide. Avoid it at all costs.
  • Rolling on a Ball or Foam Roller:
    Might feel good temporarily, but it only treats the symptom. It doesn’t restore flow or sliding.
  • Heat & STEM:
    Brings warmth, but doesn’t address fascia mechanics. Mostly a waste of time.
  • Ice After 24 Hours:
    Stops the body’s natural healing response. Good for initial injuries only—not ongoing issues.
  • Generic Strengthening or Stretching:
    Without understanding fascia connections, these can be ineffective—or make things worse.

The truth? The body isn’t isolated parts—it’s a complex system. And plantar fasciitis is often just the tip of the iceberg.

The Fascia Chain: A Holistic Perspective

Your foot contains three fascial layers that should slide smoothly. But those layers connect up your body—through your Achilles tendon, calf muscles (soleus and gastroc), hamstrings (especially biceps femoris), glutes, spine, and even arms.

When one area in that chain gets tight or dysfunctional, the whole system suffers. That’s why simply focusing on the foot won’t fix the problem. You need to treat the cause, not the symptom.

The Right Way to Treat Plantar Fasciitis

At SolCore Fitness & Therapy, here’s how I’ve helped clients overcome plantar fasciitis:

1. Myofascial Stretching

Targeted stretches for:

  • Soleus and Gastroc (calf muscles)
  • Biceps Femoris (outer hamstring)
  • Glute Max, Latissimus Dorsi, and Transversospinalis
    These open up the entire chain and restore flow—often bringing 50–70% relief with just the first few exercises.

2. Manual Therapy

I release the three stuck layers of fascia in the foot by hand—no tools, no trauma. Then I work up the leg, releasing the connective fascia from the calves to the hips and beyond.

3. Customized Progression

Each body is different. That’s why I don’t offer cookie-cutter plans. Exercises must be taught and progressed based on your structure and specific needs.

What Gets in the Way of Healing?

Even with the right approach, some factors can slow your progress:

  • Walking Too Soon After Treatment:
    It disrupts flow and resets your gains.
  • Excess Weight:
    More load = more compression on the fascia.
  • Supportive Shoes (like Hokas):
    May ease pain short-term, but limit natural foot movement and long-term recovery.
  • Poor Movement Patterns or Posture:
    Dysfunction up the chain leads to recurring issues.
  • Lack of Muscle:
    You can’t stretch a muscle that isn’t there. Strength training matters too—done correctly.

Want to Move Without Pain Again?

If you’re struggling with plantar fasciitis and want a real, lasting solution, I’ve got options for you:

Plantar fasciitis doesn’t have to be a lifelong sentence. When you work with your body—not against it—you can regain freedom, movement, and strength.

Like this? 👍🏼 Share it. Subscribe. And keep showing up for yourself.

You got this.

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Exercises That May Be Hurting You More Than Helping

SolCore Therapy and Fitness

Most people hit the gym or roll out the yoga mat with good intentions. You want to get stronger, feel better, prevent pain, or look a little more like your best self in the mirror. But what you do in the name of “health” doesn’t always lead to health!

I’ve seen it firsthand, time and again. A client comes in, confused—”I’m following the routines I see in magazines, but my knees are getting worse,” or, “My back hurts after yoga, even though everyone tells me it’s supposed to help.” Every time, the problem isn’t willpower or effort. It’s that not all exercises serve all bodies—and real harm can happen when the wrong movements are forced.

Let’s look at two stories. Months back, I worked with a runner—we’ll call him Mike—who started coming to me for knee pain. Mike powered through marathons, even as a swelling lump formed on the inside of his knee. Instead of seeking an expert, he popped painkillers, got a cortisone shot, and ran harder. Finally, when the swelling forced him to limp, he had to stop. What was the core issue? Mike’s running form was repetitively compressing and twisting the knee joint, causing inflammation in the small plica folds. Even a “harmless” strength move he’d copied from a YouTuber—heavy leg extensions—compounded the irritation.

Similarly, another client (a retired teacher, let’s call her Anna) suffered from cervical instability and a family history of heart disease. Yet every morning, driven by her online instructor’s example, she did deep neck stretches, holding headstand-like inversions. For Anna, those movements meant excessive pressure on already weakened joints and arteries, risking severe complications beyond simple soreness.

Why This Happens More Than You Think

Much of our exercise culture is based on “what’s trendy,” passed-down gym routines, or social media demonstration—rarely on what’s safe (or necessary) for each unique body. What’s considered “universal” for mobility or strength can be the wrong fit: knees that collapse on squats when the hips are weak, necks twisted when posture and strength aren’t there, or overly aggressive stretching on hypermobile bodies.

Even experienced practitioners can overlook the subtle signals—mild aches, swelling, post-exercise tension—mistaking them for harmless “burn.” But these warning lights, if not addressed, evolve into bigger problems: torn ligaments, chronic pain, headaches, or even heart issues.

How to Tell What’s Good for You

Rule #1: Pain or persistent discomfort is never just “normal.” It’s your body’s alarm system. The deeper lesson: what’s safe is deeply individual.

A movement pattern that helps one person might wear down someone else. For example:

  • Forward bends can compress discs if you have lumbar instability.
  • Ballistic stretching can provoke nerve irritation or muscle tears, especially in tight, repetitive movers.
  • Holding inversions like shoulder-stands for “neuro health” can cut off nerve or blood supply in folks with vascular conditions.

This is where assessment and biomechanical knowledge come in. A movement has to be good for your body—not just popular.

What You Can Do Right Now

  • Get a simple movement screen (with a professional) before radically changing your exercise routine.
  • Pay attention: Is pain local, referred, sharp, or persistent? Don’t “tough it out.”
  • Adjust—there’s always a modification or alternative.
  • Track swelling, redness, or loss of mobility (in the knees, neck, spine, shoulders) as early warnings.
  • Never ignore contraindications—e.g., family heart disease, joint instability, history of injury—or push them under the rug.

Why Osteopathic Manual Therapy Makes a Difference

What sets apart a specialist in Osteopathic Manual Therapy? This practice combines precise movement assessments and hands-on techniques to restore healthy function, not just build muscle. An osteopathically trained expert will look at joint integrity, soft-tissue balance, posture, and how everything connects—from ankles to neck. They target root causes: subtle imbalances that, if left unchecked, turn into the big injuries nobody wants.

When you work with a pro, you learn the “why” behind each adjustment, which exercises really promote health, and—most importantly—what you personally should avoid. It’s about proactive support, not reactive “fixes” post-injury.

Remember:

  • Don’t get stuck following what works for someone else.
  • Know your structure. Modify based on your body’s signals.
  • Prevention is always less painful—and cheaper—than correction.

Ready to ensure your fitness actually supports your health? Start by exploring the difference with genuine osteopathic manual therapy, and get a tailored map for your body, not a generic chart.

Find out more @

The Way Is Through: Embracing Challenges to Grow

embracing challenges for personal growth through holistic fitness and mindset

Click on the image to watch

The way to the life you want is through the challenges that seem to block your path. And that’s not just philosophy — embracing challenges for personal growth is a real, practical skill. It’s how you evolve. It’s how you change. And it’s exactly what a good holistic health and fitness program is built to support.

Let me share a story and a perspective that might shift how you see both your body and your life.

A Real-Life Example of Courage

Let me share a story about someone who embodied this truth: Maria Vigil, a past member of SolCore Fitness.

Maria battled scleroderma — a devastating and painful condition. Despite everything, she showed up. She trained. She smiled. And at the end of each class, no matter how hard it had been, she would shout with joy:

“Woo Hoo!”

Maria didn’t just work through her physical limitations — she worked through life itself, refusing to let her illness define her spirit.

She reminded me (and all of us) that life isn’t here to make you happy. It’s here to help you grow. That’s not just philosophy. It’s how you meet the obstacles life throws at you — and use them as fuel.

So let’s all find a way to “Woo Hoo” the tough moments in our own lives.

Growth Requires Challenge

I often tell people: you don’t come to a program like mine just to fix back pain or get better balance. You come because you want a better life. You want to do more, feel more, be more. But that means change — and change means challenge.

From a holistic standpoint, growth only happens when your structure supports your function. But most people are stuck in patterns. Not just physical patterns, but mental and emotional ones too. That’s why you feel like you’re living the same year over and over again.

You can break that cycle — but it means going toward what’s uncomfortable, not away from it.

Your Body as a Mirror for Growth

A real program challenges your structure — and your ideas about yourself.

Maybe you’re a beginner just trying to get moving. Great. The challenge is just to start.

Maybe you’re experienced or advanced — but you’re still doing the same routine you did 20 years ago. That’s not growth. That’s comfort. And staying comfortable guarantees one thing: your structure won’t change.

A good holistic fitness program works your muscles, fascia, joints, and nervous system together. It’s not a “just move” mentality. It’s targeted education for your whole body. That includes the parts you’ve been ignoring for years — and that’s where the challenge really begins.

And once you feel how those areas start to come alive… your entire life expands.

You Are More Than Your Thoughts

Buddhist teachings say, “There is suffering. But suffering has a cause.”

That cause? The way we relate to our experience — clinging to ideas of who we are and how life should go. We get stuck in thought loops, emotional ruts, conditioned identities.

But that’s not who you really are.

A holistic practice helps you get under those patterns. It shows you where you’re rigid — physically and emotionally — and gives you tools to evolve.

How You Do Anything…

How you meet the discomfort of a new movement, a challenge in your body, a surprising weakness — that’s how you’re meeting life.

You can either:

  • ❌ Collapse into old patterns (“I can’t do this”)
  • ❌ Judge yourself (“I’m broken”)
  • ✅ Or lean in and say: “This is where I grow.”

Each area of your body needs a different kind of education. That’s why fascia, joints, viscera, muscles — they all get different inputs in our program. When you meet each part of yourself where it needs attention, your structure transforms.

And when structure changes, function changes — not just physically, but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

You breathe better. You think more clearly. You live better.

The Takeaway

You don’t have to wait for a crisis to grow. You just need to meet your challenges head-on and trust that the path through is the path forward.

Maria showed us that. Your own body will show you that too — if you listen.

And remember…

“Woo Hoo!” your way through.

Because the way out is always through.

Maria Vigil

Building a foundation for a better life.

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Joint and Muscle Pain in Active People: Real Solutions

You’re active. You want to stay active. But joint and muscle pain in active people is incredibly common — and frustrating. Especially when you’ve already tried everything: chiropractic care, acupuncture, foam rolling, ART, myofascial release…

And the pain keeps coming back.

Before you chalk it up to “getting older” or “this is just my body now,” there’s one more thing you should try: a root-cause approach that looks at your body as a whole — not just the parts that hurt.

In this post, we’ll break down:

  • The real reasons active people get joint and muscle pain (even when doing all the “right” things)
  • Why most treatments don’t stick — and what your body actually needs
  • What a holistic model looks like — and how to assess yourself

Let’s dig in.

joint and muscle pain in active people

Why Most Treatments Don’t Last

Many people take a linear approach to pain relief. They chase the spot that hurts: knee, shoulder, low back. They get short-term fixes like adjustments, massage, or quick workouts. But they never look at the full picture.

Pain is often a symptom, not the actual problem.

Common band-aids include:

  • Manual therapies that release tension temporarily
  • Strengthening programs that ignore imbalance
  • Stretches that feel good but don’t fix anything long-term

Unless you find and correct the primary root cause, your body will keep compensating. And that’s why the pain comes back.

6 Common Causes of Joint and Muscle Pain in Active People

  1. Overuse Without Balance
    Doing more isn’t always better. Repetitive activity like walking, running, or gardening without balancing out your body leads to breakdown. Your body wants homeostasis — but if you don’t restore symmetry, it starts to hurt.
  2. Unresolved Minor Injuries
    That old ankle roll or back tweak you “walked off”? If it wasn’t re-trained, your body adapted around it. This creates dysfunction and strain elsewhere.
  3. Poor Movement Patterns
    Bad form — even in something as simple as squats or sit-ups — leads to chronic tension and pain. More importantly, your deep stabilizing muscles may be shut off or undertrained, which causes poor control and alignment.
  4. Doing Too Much Too Soon
    Jumping from low activity to high-intensity training (CrossFit, extreme yoga, etc.) without proper progression overwhelms the body. It’s not about the activity — it’s about whether your body is ready.
  5. Dehydration and Stress
    Lack of hydration makes fascia stiff like beef jerky, not supple tissue. Chronic stress keeps you in fight-or-flight mode, locking your muscles and nervous system in a painful loop.
  6. Poor Posture and Body Positioning
    Plumb line off? Gravity line disrupted? SI joint unstable? These are red flags. If your base (pelvis and spine) isn’t in balance, no amount of therapy or exercise will stick.

How to Identify the Real Root Cause

If you want relief that lasts, you must address the primary lesion — the root issue that’s throwing everything else off.

Here’s how to start assessing it yourself:

  • Posture Check: Take a photo from the side. Are your ear, shoulder, hip, knee, and ankle aligned?
  • Movement Observation: Have someone watch you squat, walk, or perform other activities. You may feel “normal,” but your brain often normalizes dysfunction.
  • Activity Review: What do you do most often? What areas of your body are doing the most work? Those overused chains are often the source.

Once you identify a likely root cause, focus on normalizing that area — restoring mobility, strength, awareness, and function. If you choose correctly, many secondary issues will resolve more easily.

Why a Holistic Model Works

The most effective way to resolve joint and muscle pain in active people is to use a holistic model that integrates:

  • Movement assessments (not just static posture)
  • Manual therapy to address fascia, joint alignment, and soft tissue
  • Corrective exercise to restore deep stabilization and proper motor control
  • Lifestyle shifts including hydration, mindfulness, and nervous system regulation

This is how we work at SolCore Fitness & Therapy. We don’t separate the body into disconnected pieces — we work with the whole person.

When we understand your history, how you move, how you’ve adapted, and what’s missing, we can finally address the real issue — not just the symptoms.

Next Steps

You deserve to move, live, and train without nagging pain.

Here’s how to take action:

All the links are in the description. Pick what fits — or try all three.

Building a foundation for a better life.

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Exercises That May Be Hurting You More Than Helping

Avoid exercises that harm your health

Most people hit the gym or roll out the yoga mat with good intentions. You want to get stronger, feel better, prevent pain, or look a little more like your best self in the mirror. But what you do in the name of “health” doesn’t always lead to health!

I’ve seen it firsthand, time and again. A client comes in, confused—”I’m following the routines I see in magazines, but my knees are getting worse,” or, “My back hurts after yoga, even though everyone tells me it’s supposed to help.” Every time, the problem isn’t willpower or effort. It’s that not all exercises serve all bodies—and real harm can happen when the wrong movements are forced.

Let’s look at two stories. Months back, I worked with a runner—we’ll call him Mike—who started coming to me for knee pain. Mike powered through marathons, even as a swelling lump formed on the inside of his knee. Instead of seeking an expert, he popped painkillers, got a cortisone shot, and ran harder. Finally, when the swelling forced him to limp, he had to stop. What was the core issue? Mike’s running form was repetitively compressing and twisting the knee joint, causing inflammation in the small plica folds. Even a “harmless” strength move he’d copied from a YouTuber—heavy leg extensions—compounded the irritation.

Similarly, another client (a retired teacher, let’s call her Anna) suffered from cervical instability and a family history of heart disease. Yet every morning, driven by her online instructor’s example, she did deep neck stretches, holding headstand-like inversions. For Anna, those movements meant excessive pressure on already weakened joints and arteries, risking severe complications beyond simple soreness.

Why This Happens More Than You Think

Much of our exercise culture is based on “what’s trendy,” passed-down gym routines, or social media demonstration—rarely on what’s safe (or necessary) for each unique body. What’s considered “universal” for mobility or strength can be the wrong fit: knees that collapse on squats when the hips are weak, necks twisted when posture and strength aren’t there, or overly aggressive stretching on hypermobile bodies.

Even experienced practitioners can overlook the subtle signals—mild aches, swelling, post-exercise tension—mistaking them for harmless “burn.” But these warning lights, if not addressed, evolve into bigger problems: torn ligaments, chronic pain, headaches, or even heart issues.

How to Tell What’s Good for You

Rule #1: Pain or persistent discomfort is never just “normal.” It’s your body’s alarm system. The deeper lesson: what’s safe is deeply individual.

A movement pattern that helps one person might wear down someone else. For example:

  • Forward bends can compress discs if you have lumbar instability.
  • Ballistic stretching can provoke nerve irritation or muscle tears, especially in tight, repetitive movers.
  • Holding inversions like shoulder-stands for “neuro health” can cut off nerve or blood supply in folks with vascular conditions.

This is where assessment and biomechanical knowledge come in. A movement has to be good for your body—not just popular.

What You Can Do Right Now

  • Get a simple movement screen (with a professional) before radically changing your exercise routine.
  • Pay attention: Is pain local, referred, sharp, or persistent? Don’t “tough it out.”
  • Adjust—there’s always a modification or alternative.
  • Track swelling, redness, or loss of mobility (in the knees, neck, spine, shoulders) as early warnings.
  • Never ignore contraindications—e.g., family heart disease, joint instability, history of injury—or push them under the rug.

Why Osteopathic Manual Therapy Makes a Difference

What sets apart a specialist in Osteopathic Manual Therapy? This practice combines precise movement assessments and hands-on techniques to restore healthy function, not just build muscle. An osteopathically trained expert will look at joint integrity, soft-tissue balance, posture, and how everything connects—from ankles to neck. They target root causes: subtle imbalances that, if left unchecked, turn into the big injuries nobody wants.

When you work with a pro, you learn the “why” behind each adjustment, which exercises really promote health, and—most importantly—what you personally should avoid. It’s about proactive support, not reactive “fixes” post-injury.

Remember:

  • Don’t get stuck following what works for someone else.
  • Know your structure. Modify based on your body’s signals.
  • Prevention is always less painful—and cheaper—than correction.

Ready to ensure your fitness actually supports your health? Start by exploring the difference with genuine osteopathic manual therapy, and get a tailored map for your body, not a generic chart.

It’s not just working out, it’s building a foundation for a better life.

Find out more @

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Youtube

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Bluesky

Knee Pain After Running? Don’t Forget These 3 Areas!

Knee pain after running

Is knee pain after running slowing you down—or keeping you from your favorite workouts altogether? Are you frustrated because you’re diligently doing the preventive and corrective exercises you think you “should,” yet the pain keeps returning?

You’re not alone, and you’re not wrong in your effort. You’re just likely missing three specific, essential areas every runner must address to stay truly pain-free your Patellofemoral Joint, Vastus Medialis Oblique (VMO), and Articular Genu.

Why Does Knee Pain After Running Happen?

Knee pain during or after running is incredibly common, and often strikes when you least expect it. Maybe you’re feeling great on one run then, out of nowhere, that familiar ache or sharp pain flares up. Most knee pain from running is due to overuse and improper distribution of force not necessarily a traumatic injury. Common causes include weak muscles, alignment issues, worn-down cartilage (patellofemoral syndrome/chondromalacia), or tight fascia and tendons.

The reality is: Running is a dynamic, full-body movement. Every stride sends tons (literally!) of force through your legs, up your hips and spine, and across your entire kinetic chain. If your muscles, ligaments, and critically your fascia and joint structures aren’t working optimally, that force gets lost or stuck at the knee, causing pain and, eventually, injury.

The Common Mistakes

Standard “solutions” typically target the symptoms instead of the source: ice, pain meds, generic foam rolling, or a few basic stretches. While these may help a little short-term, they don’t address the deeper mechanical misalignments or the most important stabilization muscles and connective tissues.

The 3 Areas Every Runner Needs to Address

1. Patellofemoral Joint
This is the joint between your kneecap (patella) and your femur. It’s responsible for smooth, efficient motion every time you bend or straighten your knee. When it gets “asleep” (i.e., isn’t actively engaged or well-lubricated), pain and tracking issues become inevitable. Training the Patellofemoral Joint through specific balance and mobility exercises “wakes it up,” helping it communicate with your brain and spinal cord so each stride aligns and functions correctly.

2. Vastus Medialis Oblique (VMO)
The VMO is a part of the quadriceps that attaches to the kneecap and is largely responsible for holding the patella in the right position as you move. Most traditional leg workouts and stretches miss the unique activation needed for the VMO. For running, this small, oblique section is critical—its proper firing pattern keeps your kneecap tracking smoothly and prevents it from drifting to the outside, which is a root cause of runner’s knee. Think: targeted, soccer-kick style resistance or functional movements—not just generic quad extensions.

3. Articular Genu
This lesser-known but vital structure sits deep in the thigh and attaches to the synovial membrane beneath the kneecap. Its role is to generate fluid movement under the kneecap (critical for nutrition, waste removal, and shock absorption). Standard knee routines will never touch the articular genu. Specific exercises are needed to activate this area—typically by fixing the kneecap and using isolated, precise tension to target only the articular genu fibers. When this muscle is strong and flexible, your knees recover and function properly after every run.

The Power of a Specific, Holistic Approach

Fixing knee pain after running isn’t about one stretch or trendy treatment. It’s about a targeted, holistic program that addresses not only the muscles and joints, but the connective tissue and the hidden stabilizers and fluid channels.
If you’re stuck in the pain–rest–relapse loop, or you’re always trying a mix of magazine or YouTube workouts, you’re missing the specific, lasting solution your body needs to thrive as a runner and stay active as you age.

Here’s Your Action Plan:

  1. Warm Up the Right Areas: Before you run, activate the ankles, knees, hips, and spine. Use dynamic movements and gently increase internal body temp and mobility.
  2. Stretch and Normalize Afterwards: After running, use myofascial and specific chain stretches to address shins, calves, hamstrings, deep hip rotators, glutes, and trunk—all crucial for knee function.
  3. Target the 3 Key Areas: Add corrective, focused exercises for your Patellofemoral Joint, VMO, and Articular Genu. If you’re not sure how, don’t guess—this is where specialized coaching makes all the difference.

Real Results Happen With the Right Focus

Remember, pain doesn’t disappear from generic advice or random routines. One client—a dedicated runner plagued for years by “patellofemoral syndrome”—saw her pain vanish completely within three months of following a true corrective routine. Best of all, her overall mobility and confidence soared, proving that targeted training builds more than just pain relief: it’s the foundation for lifelong activity and enjoyment.

You are only as strong and mobile as your weakest area. Instead of letting knee pain sideline your progress, address the real drivers. Your daily routine should empower you to not just manage but transform your running experience.

If you’re ready to stop cycling through ineffective fixes and finally address the root of your knee pain, the next step is simple:
[Book a free consult] to get access to individualized evaluation and a proven, practical path forward so you can return to running, exercise, and the activities you love with lasting comfort and strength.

it’s not just working out, it’s building a foundation for a better life.

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