Is running bad for your knees?

[maciascl]

Knee problem seem to run in my family. In fact my mom is haveing her 1st total knee rplacement tomorrow. Some of the knee problems come from the fact that most of my family is over weight, so I am trying to take care of that part for me by exerciseing now and getting myself in better shape. I'd like to start running, but I'm afraid it could cause more knee problems than it would be worth.

[Geofizz]

Get good shoes (best: fit at a running store), warm up, cool down, stretch properly, listen to your body, start off slowly. Also, pick a good surface -- track or dirt trail are best. Asphalt is even better then cement.

Check out coolrunning.com's couch to 5k. Few people get hurt starting with an interval program like this.

Have fun!

[CathToria]

ITA with the pp.. good running shoes, fitted at a running store if possible, C25K, and mybe some calcium supplemts

[goldingoddess]

From my experience as a yoga teacher, a lot of knee problems can be linked with bodies that have inflexible hips. If you have a tendency towards knee problems I would recommend lots of hip stretches, like pigeon pose in yoga, or thread the needle pose. And as always, if something is causing pain in your knees, discontinue the excersize immediately.

NAK

[ShareBear]

Running can absolutely be done in a way that is safe for your knees. Just keep in mind that it takes your bones and connective tissues a while to build up strength--they are a lot slower to strengthen than your lungs and your muscles. So while you might have the muscle strength and aerobic capacity to ramp up your distances fairly quickly, your bones and joints may not be ready, and increasing your distances too fast might lead to joint injuries or shin splints.

It can be hard psychologically to restrain yourself. You might be running along feeling fantastic (yes, running can really be addictive), thinking, "Wow, this is great! I bet I can run farther/faster than I ever have today!" and just then you feel a little twinge in your knee. You might really want to push through the pain to reach your goal, but it's important to slow down and take it easy. You can always reach your goal tomorrow, or the next week.

Just work into it very, very gradually, and stay flexible (yoga is great), and you will be fine. Oh, and good shoes help too.

[prancie]

I have to contribute that it is proven that running shoes (especially very supportive/padded ones) INCREASE the force with which you impact the ground. This is because our feet need to feel the ground in order to properly balance, so we instinctively hit harder when there is padding between us and the ground. When scientists did experiments with gymnasts, they found that they hit harder upon landing when there was more padding, not less. Running shoes block the pain associated with impact, but not the actual impact. So, yes, running with running shoes can really hurt your knees. Running barefoot forces you to have good form, and you learn (VERY quickly) how to run lightly and safely. Plus, when you begin you won't be able to run very far on bare feet, so if you only run as far as you can barefoot you give your tendons and ligaments time to strengthen.

Google barefoot running and you will find great information. I am a barefoot runner/walker and can testify that I stopped having chronic injuries, corns, and expensive shoe bills when i threw out my fancy stability shoes. Plus my arches are higher and my feet actually look healthier and more muscular.

[maciascl]

Originally Posted by prancie

I have to contribute that it is proven that running shoes (especially very supportive/padded ones) INCREASE the force with which you impact the ground. This is because our feet need to feel the ground in order to properly balance, so we instinctively hit harder when there is padding between us and the ground. When scientists did experiments with gymnasts, they found that they hit harder upon landing when there was more padding, not less. Running shoes block the pain associated with impact, but not the actual impact. So, yes, running with running shoes can really hurt your knees. Running barefoot forces you to have good form, and you learn (VERY quickly) how to run lightly and safely. Plus, when you begin you won't be able to run very far on bare feet, so if you only run as far as you can barefoot you give your tendons and ligaments time to strengthen.

Google barefoot running and you will find great information. I am a barefoot runner/walker and can testify that I stopped having chronic injuries, corns, and expensive shoe bills when i threw out my fancy stability shoes. Plus my arches are higher and my feet actually look healthier and more muscular.

See this is sort of where my thinking lies too. I guess I need to do some research. It is just so hard to know what/who is being honest & you can believe.

[mandib50]

i couldn't even imagine running barefoot where i live ... gravel roads or snowy roads would not be very comfortable. maybe i should google it and learn more

[lucyem]

Personally I would not chance it. Bad knees run in my family. I know too many friends who run who have had knee issues as a result. There are other options. For example I took a walking for fitness class once and if done properly you can get just as much of a workout without the stress to your knees.

[GooeyRN]

I wrecked my knees by running on a treadmill in crappy sneakers. Get good sneakers and run on dirt tracts or grass. Avoid hard surfaces and crappy shoes!

[LeslieB]

Originally Posted by mandib50

i couldn't even imagine running barefoot where i live ... gravel roads or snowy roads would not be very comfortable. maybe i should google it and learn more

I just got a pair of Nike Free running shoes TODAY. They will provide protection, but are supposed to be more like barefoot running.
Vibram Five Finger shoes might be even better and closer to barefoot, but with protection.

I really believe all these cushioned shoes are what's causing the knee injuries from running.

[maciascl]

Originally Posted by LeslieB

I just got a pair of Nike Free running shoes TODAY. They will provide protection, but are supposed to be more like barefoot running.
Vibram Five Finger shoes might be even better and closer to barefoot, but with protection.

I really believe all these cushioned shoes are what's causing the knee injuries from running.

Wow! Those are cool. I'll have to look into those 5 finger ones