Mid 50s and had some knee discomfort at the end of last year. I’m pretty used to overuse injuries going way back but this one improved but didn’t get better.
Went to the sports doc and turns out I have some arthritis in my right knee. He said I could keep running and talked about shots etc. not really keen on that.
I’ve never been a great runner so wasn’t devastated at the prospect of less running and doing aquabike but would like to dabble in 5Ks and sprint tris for fun. I enjoy running and a coupe of runs a week would be nice.
Anyone have tips to offer to mitigate the discomfort and future damage? Shoes, exercises, surfaces, etc?
Mid 50s and had some knee discomfort at the end of last year. I’m pretty used to overuse injuries going way back but this one improved but didn’t get better.
Went to the sports doc and turns out I have some arthritis in my right knee. He said I could keep running and talked about shots etc. not really keen on that.
I’ve never been a great runner so wasn’t devastated at the prospect of less running and doing aquabike but would like to dabble in 5Ks and sprint tris for fun. I enjoy running and a coupe of runs a week would be nice.
Anyone have tips to offer to mitigate the discomfort and future damage? Shoes, exercises, surfaces, etc?
Thanks.
Don’t know much about knees, but maybe try different shoes/surfaces/run types e.g running on grass, running up hills, intervals, treadmill etc Hokas might be good for you knee?
Look into this medication/oinment called Volteran. Used to be prescription only but available off the shelf in the US now. I don’t think it’s safe to use all the time but it should be ok to use from time to time. Ask your doctor.
I’ve been running successfully despite longstanding ankle arthritis (I know, not the knee but it’s similar in terms of dealing with the thinned cartilage.)
Big, puffy, cushiony shoes are your friend. They really do work - they basically substitute for your thinned cartilage by absorbing most of the hard impact on each footstroke, and can allow someone like me with MRI-proven thinned cartilage who can’t run more than 15 miles per week on thinner lighter running shoes, to easily run 30mpw+ (likely more for me, but I don’t run much more than 30mpw as a triathlete) including speedwork.
Best, maximal cushy shoes that actually work I’ve found:
Nike Invincible - definitely the cushiest and is also really stable
Hoka Bondi 6 - Also super cushy, but not quite as cushy as the Invincible
Keep in mind however there is a cost to the cush. These shoes are slow, noticeably so. So not a great choice for fast sprint/oly racing. Also, exercise caution if you train predominantly in these and then go to a fast light racing shoe with much less padding and different heel-toe drop on race day - you may end up straining your calf or something else if you’re not properly acclimated to the shoe and run at your fast race pace (happened to me). I’ve since adjusted by incorporating more runs with the light race day shoe to my weekly regimen and more in the weeks before race day, so long as I’m not getting that bone bruise pain feeling I know if I’m overdoing it.
Look into this medication/oinment called Volteran. Used to be prescription only but available off the shelf in the US now. I don’t think it’s safe to use all the time but it should be ok to use from time to time. Ask your doctor.
Look into this medication/oinment called Volteran. Used to be prescription only but available off the shelf in the US now. I don’t think it’s safe to use all the time but it should be ok to use from time to time. Ask your doctor.
In addition to the Voltaren, which does give some short term relief, I did have the series of four Ortho-Visc gel shots to both knees. The hype says you feel immediate relief with them, but the truth is it actually takes a few weeks to feel a difference. It is not a cure, but it has been helpful.
Since I’ve never been a great runner, I have little ego invested in this. But give me a cool fall morning, nothing beats a run in the woods. That’s what I want to keep. So I’ll race in what I train in.
I also had a productive conversation with another arthritic aquabike athlete a race today.
Improving flexibility (I’m not), mobility, and form is important. His take, which makes intuitive sense, is my form is crap and my dominant leg took the brunt for years and exacerbates the discomfort.
I’ll keep plugging away and see what might help.
Mid 50s and had some knee discomfort at the end of last year. I’m pretty used to overuse injuries going way back but this one improved but didn’t get better.
Went to the sports doc and turns out I have some arthritis in my right knee. He said I could keep running and talked about shots etc. not really keen on that.
I’ve never been a great runner so wasn’t devastated at the prospect of less running and doing aquabike but would like to dabble in 5Ks and sprint tris for fun. I enjoy running and a coupe of runs a week would be nice.
Anyone have tips to offer to mitigate the discomfort and future damage? Shoes, exercises, surfaces, etc?
Thanks.
Similar situation to you. Two bad arthritic knees with imminent knee replacements once I hit a specific age. That said, I refuse to go quietly into the night and maintain 3-4 runs per week with 20+ miles per week total. I live and swear by my Hoka Clifton 8s and make sure they are in great condition (ie never let them get totally worn down), spent a LOT of time working on my run form (i.e. higher cadence and shortening stride), try to run on softer surfaces when possible (find sidewalks are the worst) and keep my weight manageable (to avoid extra wear and tear on the body). Beyond that, I have found that activity is also a great lubricant. If I take more than 3-4 days off running… my knees ache terribly. So, I rarely miss a run day… even if it is only a 30 min jog.
I have also heard about the shots and other things you can take. For me, I have not gone down that route… yet
In the end, you just have to mentally tell yourself you will not give up running. No matter what!
I have arthritis in one of my knees. It’s taken me quite a few years, but I can run comfortably now. First, I switched to a forefoot strike. I used the Newton Kismet to help me get the feel for that type of running. Second, I increased my cadence to keep my weight more over my feet instead of my weight behind my feet. Third, I spent a lot of time strength training to get good support for the joint. And finally, I’m still working on dropping weight.
I have arthritis in one of my knees. It’s taken me quite a few years, but I can run comfortably now. First, I switched to a forefoot strike. I used the Newton Kismet to help me get the feel for that type of running. Second, I increased my cadence to keep my weight more over my feet instead of my weight behind my feet. Third, I spent a lot of time strength training to get good support for the joint. And finally, I’m still working on dropping weight…
Very good! Another great series of shoes to get one to forefoot strike is the Saucony Endorphin line, especially the Shift and Speed. Keep up the good work!
Also, the impact from running will aid tremendously in bone density. Keep going…
I was diagnosed with arthritis when I was still in high school 44 years ago (runs in the family, my mom needed both knees replaced by her mid-50s). I was told back then that staying active would hurt, but ultimately not as much as from not being active. I have noticed that after long periods of forced inactivity, I do hurt more than before but it eases up a bit after I’m back into a regular routine.
I have arthritis in one of my knees. It’s taken me quite a few years, but I can run comfortably now. First, I switched to a forefoot strike. I used the Newton Kismet to help me get the feel for that type of running. Second, I increased my cadence to keep my weight more over my feet instead of my weight behind my feet. Third, I spent a lot of time strength training to get good support for the joint. And finally, I’m still working on dropping weight.
Same here. After one of those periods of forced inactivity, when I started running again I picked up the book on Chi Running, and changed my running style, along with wearing low (4-6mm) drop shoes. Since then, I’ve had no running related injuries (used to be constantly injured), and my knees feel much better than they did back in the day…
Same here. After one of those periods of forced inactivity, when I started running again I picked up the book on Chi Running, and changed my running style, along with wearing low (4-6mm) drop shoes. Since then, I’ve had no running related injuries (used to be constantly injured), and my knees feel much better than they did back in the day…
I tore my ACL and had a 75% medial menisectomy over 30 years ago. I didn’t run for a long time to “save my knees” but started back up about 16 years ago by using the Chi running philosophy. I have been able to run pretty much pain free doing this. My ankles and calves hurt for a year but finally adjusted.