I’ve been out of the racing scene for a couple of years now but kept myself relatively fit at the same time primarily through commuting. I’d had a few injury issues back when racing including some ITBS and patella tendonapathy (both knees but from memory the right was slightly worse). I would occasionally strap underneath the knee when pain occasionally presented itself and this sometimes did the trick. I also tried some forefoot running but got several bouts of calf heart attack. I turned 40 this year. Have never been more than a couple of kilograms over race weight so no extra burden on the legs. Also have orthotics prescribed by a top sports podiatrist but haven’t seem him for at least a few years.
Recently I’ve started getting back into some running. Primarily short 5k commute runs into work, training 3 overweight friends in for 6km jog/walks after work and then running 4-5k home afterwards. I’ll do this twice weekly. I might run up to 3:45/km (6min / mile) pace for the commutes. Now I’ve found my right knee flaring up again. It also makes a bit of crackling noise and you can feel the vibrations when holding your hand over the tendon below the knee. I’ve wondered whether I might consider going in and getting it cleaned out but then read somewhere (online - so just another opinion I know) that cleaning it out is old school thinking and it just cuts away what cartilage may be left. I don’t know what to believe.
It would be nice to think that it could be muscle imbalances causing tracking issues and that if I address these (PT / yoga etc) that I might be able to get a longer term solution. Possibly also start taking the glucosomine etc?
Having not seen a sports doc for many years and not having paid attention to current trends does anyone have some experience in what the current thinking is?
THanks in advance.
Mike