Q: I'm a moderate runner, about 3 miles every other day. My problem is my knee. It gets achy, and takes the fun out of the run. I stretch after I run. Is there anything else you can suggest?

A: I get a lot of knee questions, and I do have a few suggestions, hopefully something will help. First of all, you need to get an idea of how bad your injury is. If you're getting signs of inflammation, (redness, heat, swelling) along with the pain, have a doctor take a look. A serious injury deserves rest, and maybe more. Hopefully it's not bad, and some lesser measures are enough.

Make sure your shoes are up to the job. If they're too worn, or don't fit right, replace them.

Next, I'd try some stretching before the run. I'd also warm up my knee by rubbing all around it for a minute or so. This lessens the shock once you get started.

Icing afterward can be helpful too. A bag of frozen peas applied for 10 to 20 minutes should do the job.

These suggestions can be quite helpful, and are worth trying first. Let me share a few others that have helped me:

Try sleeping with a pillow between your knees and ankles. Having the knee supported, instead of bent or twisted can feel wonderful. It may take a little getting used to, but it works.

Remove some of the strain from behind the knee. For this you'll need a small rubber ball and a chair with a firm seat. While seated, place the ball under your thigh on the seat of the chair. Allow your thigh to relax, collapse onto the ball. Taking a few deep breaths into the tight areas can really help. When this first spot calms down, try slowly bending your knee to find more pains. Stop at each spot and repeat the breath routine. You'll be surprised at how good this feels.

I offer these suggestions, hoping to reduce your pain and create more peace in the world.