Went jogging for the 2nd time - ankles and knees hurting!

[Perspective]

Originally Posted by Cantando

Saw an interesting program the other night about some UK university research into the best way to run. Apparently, humans are designed to run barefoot with the balls of the feet hitting the ground first, not the heels. If your heels hit first, the stress goes to your knees and up through your spine and can cause problems.

If you hit with the balls first, the stress goes through your calf muscles which act as shock absorbers. The program showed a guy who had chronic knee pain after running for years.

Once he adapted his style to landing on the balls of his feet, the pain went away.

And, you don't need to buy expensive running shoes.

That is interesting.
Thanks for sharing this. It's something I've wondered about.

[russianrocket]

Originally Posted by BillyTheAdult

I'm sorry but I just have trouble believing that the whole barefoot thing is more than just a fad with some convincing propaganda. People who say the moon landing was fake have come up with some great evidence too. Read the pages about barefoot running in four hour body. I don't necessarily believe it's all that bad, just not superior either.

Well, what about the whole barefoot thing do you not agree with. I get, that you just don't really believe it, but what are your reasons for not believing it?

[EvolveWithFlavor]

Running can be an odd thing - I found that when I was very stressed out and more neurotic, I would actually hurt myself more when I was running - the knees and the ankles would burn tremendously.

When I relaxed, starting running more on the beach, and started listening to audiobooks, things got alot better and the pain tended to go away.

So its kind of an odd thing - you have to get in the right "frame of mind" to really make running work I think. I would say take it slow at first and then gradually step up your frequency.

It could also have alot to do with Food Intake as well.

[joelr]

Every time I start a running phase my feet, shins, hips, knees, hurt a lot and after a week or so everything goes away.
Same with grappling or boxing (from moving around in the bent-knee stance).

Same with doing squats with heavy weights. If I take a long lay off from doing legs my knees really hurt while squatting down the first few workouts, even with just the bar. Then they feel fine.

With running I also get shin splints at first.

[russianrocket]

anyone get the pain, at the side of the knee?

[Benton]

Originally Posted by BillyTheAdult

I'm sorry but I just have trouble believing that the whole barefoot thing is more than just a fad with some convincing propaganda. People who say the moon landing was fake have come up with some great evidence too. Read the pages about barefoot running in four hour body. I don't necessarily believe it's all that bad, just not superior either.

We, as humans, didn't evolve on the moon. We did evolve walking around barefoot. That's the way I look at it.

Originally Posted by russianrocket

So many different models. I'm having a hard time deciding which ones to get.

I really like the komodosports, they have a sole and upper that you can wear like regular shoe. Some of the others like the KSO have an almost foam rubber sole. I'd say either the Komodosports or the trek are a good one to try for overall usability.

Originally Posted by joelr

Same with doing squats with heavy weights. If I take a long lay off from doing legs my knees really hurt while squatting down the first few workouts, even with just the bar. Then they feel fine.

That could simply be flexibility and the inability to get below parallel when you start back squatting. Just a guess.

[Perspective]

Originally Posted by russianrocket

Well, what about the whole barefoot thing do you not agree with. I get, that you just don't really believe it, but what are your reasons for not believing it?

I've heard that good shoes that support your arch are important so your arches don't "fall" - & so your feet don't become flat, which can cause other issues like back pain. Yet, I can see how nature's way of distributing & balancing weight may be more likely bare-foot.

Maybe what is more signficant is how you run... & what surface you run on.
I've heard that walking it's good to go heal-toe.
But running, it's better to land on the center of the foot to reduce shock to joints.
But I'm not sure how that would help or hurt the sole of the foot.

[Perspective]

Originally Posted by EvolveWithFlavor

When I relaxed, starting running more on the beach, and started listening to audiobooks, things got alot better and the pain tended to go away.

So its kind of an odd thing - you have to get in the right "frame of mind" to really make running work I think. I would say take it slow at first and then gradually step up your frequency.

Lucky you to be able to regularly run on the beach!
It makes sense to have a good frame of mind.
I really believe our thoughts affect us physically.

Which reminds me... for those interested in affirmations related to health...
Healing Affirmations - Metaphysical Causes of Disease and Illness

[JDuff]

Hi, I didn't have time to read other people's posts so sorry if it's already been said!

Basically jogging on concrete is BAD for your joints! Ideally you want a softer surface - a running track, or ideally grass. The impact of every stride - you get the picture.

Furthermore, you may have arched feet which means if your shoes don't fit properly you may have a distorted running mechanism and posture which could misalign your joints, causing inevitable discomfort. A decent shoe shop should be able to tell you what kind of feet you have.

Apart from that, it may be that as you get older your joints get worse! Probably get cod liver oil and other nutrition that is good for your joints.

And yeah, in time I think it will get better if it is just stiffness or being out of practise, by things like warming up etc.

Or even better, you could try a low-impact sport like swimming or cycling - not so much weight goes through the joints so it is much better for them.