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Joint injuries from running

PostPosted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 3:42 am
by Mark Straub
I freaking get injured all the freaking time from running. I don't know why- I just do. I wear orthotics, go to the school trainer whenever I get hurt, but it still happens. And it's not just one thing- my list this season (1 month) includes, but is not limited to:

-Shin splints
-Achilles tendon pain in left ankle
-Tendonitis in right ankle
-Sprained right foot
-Knee trouble
-Hip pain

Why? Climbing certainly doesn't degrade me like this (hiking sometimes, but not so bad as running)?

I don't even run that far, just like 35 miles a week.

-Mark

PostPosted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 7:19 am
by norco17
Like dude said, "Don't run when you are in pain." Out of all the forms of exercise I think running is the one that can injure me the quickest. Most workouts I would say play through the pain, but with running I would say if it starts to hurt back off and stretch it.

PostPosted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 1:08 pm
by bird
35 miles a week is a lot of running...5 miles every day, 9 miles 4 days a week? When I trained for a marathon, I don't think I ran 35 miles a week. If your goal is to be long distance runner, then maybe that's what you have to do, but if your goal is to stay in shape for climbing, other sports, life in general, then there's no need to run that much, especially if you keep getting injured.
Getting that out of the way, have you explored "pose" running? Many people have said this has cured their running woes. (I cant seem to get a grip on it, but that's just me.)

Anyway, post your goals and you'll get a ton of advice which will go something like this...

"Crossfit Rocks!"
"Crossfit sucks! My aunt suzy's cousin hurt her trapezious doing crossfit"
"Crossfit is awesome I now climb 5.12 thanks to crossfit"
"Crossfit is full of lies and it's a scam!"
etc. etc etc. :D

Re: Joint injuries from running

PostPosted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 1:14 pm
by Haliku
A few things might be your issue. Your shoes are old or too small; you are running mostly on concrete; you are running too many miles a week for your age (your body is still growing); your running form is wrong; and/or you are running too fast of a pace.

Climbing is more slow burn endurance. Running is not slow burn. In general most climbing injuries (alpine at least) are from being in the wrong place/wrong time and not overuse injuries. Consider joining up a local running club and get some running coaching advice.

And as was said DON'T CONTINUE IF YOU FEEL INJURED.

Full disclosure: I've trained for and run numerous races from half marathon to 50 miles in length.

Cheers!
bird wrote:"Crossfit Rocks!"
"Crossfit sucks! My aunt suzy's cousin hurt her trapezious doing crossfit"
"Crossfit is awesome I now climb 5.12 thanks to crossfit"
"Crossfit is full of lies and it's a scam!"
etc. etc etc. :D


I knew this would show up pretty soon! Are you sponsored by Crossfit? :-)

PostPosted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 1:46 pm
by ExcitableBoy
Some people simply do not have the mechanics to run. My running partner has been running for 35 years (6 marathons and ultras a year) and has never been injured. I have been running for 25 years up to 85 miles a week with no injuries. Some people just shouldn't run. Maybe you should take up biking instead?

Re: Joint injuries from running

PostPosted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 2:42 pm
by mstender
Haliku wrote:
bird wrote:"Crossfit Rocks!"
"Crossfit sucks! My aunt suzy's cousin hurt her trapezious doing crossfit"
"Crossfit is awesome I now climb 5.12 thanks to crossfit"
"Crossfit is full of lies and it's a scam!"
etc. etc etc. :D


I knew this would show up pretty soon! Are you sponsored by Crossfit? :-)


I am not exactly sure what Crossfit has to do with running related ailments either. :?:

Re: Joint injuries from running

PostPosted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 2:50 pm
by bird
mstender wrote:
Haliku wrote:
bird wrote:"Crossfit Rocks!"
"Crossfit sucks! My aunt suzy's cousin hurt her trapezious doing crossfit"
"Crossfit is awesome I now climb 5.12 thanks to crossfit"
"Crossfit is full of lies and it's a scam!"
etc. etc etc. :D


I knew this would show up pretty soon! Are you sponsored by Crossfit? :-)


I am not exactly sure what Crossfit has to do with running related ailments either. :?:

If was a joke after I asked what the OP's goals were. If his goal is general fitness...then CF would come up and the debate I jokingly summarized would ensue. If his goal is to be a long distance runner, then I guess it doesn't apply. Just trying add a little SP humor. "Crickets chirping?"

running

PostPosted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 3:00 pm
by pyerger
I have lots of injuries, from running. These day I will only run on trails, it seems that running on gravel, or dirt changes my feet position( almost massaging my feet as I run) Plus going up, and down hills works different Muscles. I really enjoy running, but running on the same plane, pounding the same muscle groups, on pavement doesn't work for me. Also have to stretch much more, as the years go by.

Good luck.

PostPosted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 3:02 pm
by mfox79
How long have you been running for? 35 Miles does soud like a lot. the reason I ask is one thing I have learned with running is to slowly get your body used to the shock you are putting on it by gradually increasing your distance and pace. and as bird said I have heard of people changing out there shoes for new ones and curing the shin splints, this has work- ed for me in the past. are you running for fittness or do you have a goal to run races long distance? if it is for fittness you can get by with running three times a week ( i think any more then that is over kill) for thirty minutes average. but thats just my own opinion. :wink:

PostPosted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 3:03 pm
by dyusem
+1 for biking.

I gave up running last year when I was experiencing frequent injuries and got back into cycling on a Cannondale F3 and since then I am injury free, getting a more complete workout and I always have that stupid smile on my face when going downhill :)

ExcitibleBoy wrote:Some people simply do not have the mechanics to run. My running partner has been running for 35 years (6 marathons and ultras a year) and has never been injured. I have been running for 25 years up to 85 miles a week with no injuries. Some people just shouldn't run. Maybe you should take up biking instead?

Re: Joint injuries from running

PostPosted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 3:12 pm
by CClaude
Mark Straub wrote:I freaking get injured all the freaking time from running. I don't know why- I just do. I wear orthotics, go to the school trainer whenever I get hurt, but it still happens. And it's not just one thing- my list this season (1 month) includes, but is not limited to:

-Shin splints
-Achilles tendon pain in left ankle
-Tendonitis in right ankle
-Sprained right foot
-Knee trouble
-Hip pain

Why? Climbing certainly doesn't degrade me like this (hiking sometimes, but not so bad as running)?

I don't even run that far, just like 35 miles a week.

-Mark


As if you should or shouldn't run, that would be up to you and an orthopedic surgeon and a physical therapist to decide. 35 miles really isn't that far. When I was competative I would train with monthes at 110miles/week; but my purpose was something different. Take what the schools trainer says with a grain of salt, not knowing what their credentials are. Many school trainers do NOT have the same rigor of training as a PT.

Lets go through the injuries individually (but may needed to be taken as a whole). Often you will get one injury and because you compensate (knowingly or unknowingly) you end up creating an injury in the other leg. I joke that running injuries spiral upwards. Now I don't know what injury occurred first though, though several may be unrelated.

Talk to a PT about your injuries but in general

-add hip strengthening excersizes to your routine. Recent research has shown that many knee injuries can be prevented with a hip strengthening routine.

-work on stability using a stability pad (sort of like a stability ball but small and flat meant for standing on) and work on balance and strengthening the stablizer muscles that control the ankle and knee. This should minimize future injuries in the ankle.

-look at your routine and see if you are overdoing it based on your baseline. Aim at working your way up without injuries. Think of this as a long term goal of the next 20-60yrs.

-change your shoes more often then you think. If you are running 35miles/wk tthe manufacturers would recommend that you change shoes every 1.5-2 mos (which is rediculous since when I was running 110mile/wk I'd need to change my shoes every other week). Aim at changing shoes at once every 4 mos. Its an expense but its cheaper then injuries.

Re: Joint injuries from running

PostPosted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 3:50 pm
by mstender
bird wrote:
mstender wrote:
Haliku wrote:
bird wrote:"Crossfit Rocks!"
"Crossfit sucks! My aunt suzy's cousin hurt her trapezious doing crossfit"
"Crossfit is awesome I now climb 5.12 thanks to crossfit"
"Crossfit is full of lies and it's a scam!"
etc. etc etc. :D


I knew this would show up pretty soon! Are you sponsored by Crossfit? :-)


I am not exactly sure what Crossfit has to do with running related ailments either. :?:

If was a joke after I asked what the OP's goals were. If his goal is general fitness...then CF would come up and the debate I jokingly summarized would ensue. If his goal is to be a long distance runner, then I guess it doesn't apply. Just trying add a little SP humor. "Crickets chirping?"


HaHa, I must have not caught the joke. :lol:
This whole Crossfit thing has really been beaten to death here on SP and eventually it seems to show up in every thread no matter what the topic.

PostPosted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 4:22 pm
by Woodie Hopper
As far as many knee ailments go, weight-bearing leg exercises will help decrease the stress on the knees and may therefore help. Cycling may also be worthwhile to look into as an alternative. I do this do decrease the frequency of longer runs over 10 miles, and ride to work when I know I won't have time to run on a particular day, for example.

Woodie

PostPosted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 8:03 pm
by ksolem
If you don't mind me asking, why are you using orthotics?

PostPosted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 8:26 pm
by Augie Medina
Then there is the barefoot running school which claims elimination or minimization of injuries.