Health and fitness: sudden knee pain w/o injury

Self-tutoring about a bizarre event concerning my right knee: the tutor tells a story.

I don’t expect people to believe this story because to me, it barely makes sense. Yet, it happened: here it is:

Last Thursday and Friday my routine changed: I spent a lot of time at a computer I normally sit in front of only briefly. Yet, both Thursday and Friday I sat in front of it for hours doing research.

I think I started to notice on Friday that standing up felt different, but I was occupied with the research so didn’t contemplate why. Yet, Saturday morning, when I went to stand up from that chair, my right knee hurt a lot.

I’m an avid runner, but last time I ran (Thursday), I did 8km and felt fine. Moreover, I’ve no knee injuries I’m aware of. However, Saturday morning, when I discovered how much my right knee hurt, I tried to do a squat and could barely do one. As I did so, my right knee gave horrible, sharp pain.

I contemplated the situation with the certainty I wasn’t injured. What was causing so much peril to my right knee, then?

I soon decided that the culprit is likely the office chair in front of that computer I worked at Thursday and Friday. The chair is comfortable, but it cups under my knees in a way a hard chair wouldn’t.

Most of the time, when sitting at a computer, I’m on a hard chair. I decided that the way I sit on that cushy office chair must position my right knee in a way that causes it distress. Therefore, I swapped out the office chair for a hard one, and continued my research.

By Saturday evening my right knee was noticeably improved. Now, Sunday morning, I can do a squat without pain. The right knee still has some tenderness, but is almost back to normal.

Why that office chair is so detrimental to my right knee, God knows. However, it seems to’ve been the problem.

If my knee continues to improve, I’ll be out running later today:)