Jogging Bad For Your Knees & Back?

BoB_BoT

Hey all, was wondering if anyone knows if jogging on roads is bad for your knees and back. Someone told me this before and I dismissed it, but since i've recently taken to jogging on roads/paths in the morning it left me thinking, so anyone know if it's true or not?

Thanks,
Rob

carbonkid

yeah i was told by a friend that studies fittness that when you run it causes an impact on the bones around your knees but unless you have major problems with your knees its nothing to worry about,dont see how it would have an effect on ur back unless the impact causes a ripple up to your back

Snaga

A lot of hard running on a hard surface like roads will eventually have an effect on your knees. This will vary from person to person as obviously some people will have stronger knees than others.

I know mine arent the same as they used to be after many years of competitive road running, i.e. I get some general soreness just under my knee caps after a run (though its been a while since ive done any of that!).

That said if your smart about it, i.e. get decent, proper running shoes with good shock absorption that fit correctly, then it can help dramatically reduce any potential damage.

The only way I can see it having an effect on your back is if you are a major 'plodder', i.e. flat footed runner as this tends to send a lot more shock up through your legs and lower spine.

Jam

I think it has more to about where you jog than if you jog. Jogging on wet sand and off-road compared to jogging on pavement and tarmac.

I've been jogging on tarmac, shinsplints are bad.

Eurorunner

Jog on soft surfaces as opposed to hard surfaces.

Correct Footwear: Not only should you get a good pair of runners, you need to get a pair that suit your feet/the way you run. eg. some people will run - putting more pressure say on the inside of the foot & vice versa - in which case, you need runners with inner support to correct this.
So its not just about shelling out $$ on quality runners - they also have to actually suit your particular requirements.
The only shop in Ireland that has the setup to actually assess what footwear you need is Mick Dowlings Sportsworld in Terenure. If you travel abroad, you will find stores where they put u on a treadmill for a couple of minutes - video your running and rerun it to assess how your running.
Another quick way to assess this is to look at your current runners and (assuming theyve been used for a while) you will probably see that the wear is not even ie. one side may have worn away more than another - which means that this is the area that needs more support - to be provided by your new trainers.

hth

RicardoSmith

I had problems playing footie on all weather pitches. In fact I had to give up playing on those hard surfaces. The newer rubber surface I have found is a huge improvment and I was able to go back playing on them with no problems. So if you are jogginh I suggest you try and stay on the grass if possible.

tunney

Running can mess with your knees, but generally only because of an underlying problem. Bad bio-mechanics, too swift an increase in mileage or intensity, bad runners, bad surfaces (slanted)

Get your running form checked out by a person in the know, get decent runners AND START SLOW, and you'll be grand. Ignore all this advice like I did and get injured.

Mr E

Good technique helps. Jog heel to toe to reduce impact. Make sure your heel hits the ground first, and that your toe is the last thing to leave the ground.

- Dave.

BoB_BoT

thanks guys, will take the advice, all i have to do now is find somewhere "soft" to jog and also somewhere that sells good running shoes, off into town tomorrow then it is Anyone recomend a perticular brand/make of shoe?

Jam

Well, for brand recommendations.. I stumbled onto Roadrunnersports. Just a pity it's in Yankish

Eurorunner

Anyone recomend a perticular brand/make of shoe?

If your going to go by brand then asics probably ...but as per my original post, it aint about brand as such..its about the right shoe for your particular hoofs. The link provided by Jam demonstrates my point to some extent. On the form you will see that it refers to arch type and running mechanics - now, the only way your going to get the right shoes is somewhere you get the right advice on them. As fars i'm aware - and as posted by someone else here a couple of months ago - the ONLY place in Ireland where you will get this is in Sportsworld, Terenure.

There your feet/legs/knees - if your serious about it and want to avoid injury at the same time, then this is the only way to go. The spotty kids in any of the chain stores wont know **** about this...

tunney

It is worth noting that Asics are no longer the recommended brand of the top running experts, Brooks are now. Apparantly Asics f*&ked with their shoes a little *too* much this year.

Eurorunner

Originally posted by tunney
It is worth noting that Asics are no longer the recommended brand of the top running experts, Brooks are now. Apparantly Asics f*&ked with their shoes a little *too* much this year.

Past the point of running the risk of repeating myself.....

Brand has fcuk all to do with it:ninja:

tunney

True it is more a case of the individual foot and the individual shoe, but general guidelines such as brands and or models that are not completely crap can help

dudara

there's an excellent running shop in Cork City as well, I feel he deserves a mention for anyone down in the South.

http://www.johnbuckleysports.com/

Eurorunner

Thanks for that Dudara, its nice to see another option (although its still 3 hrs. away from me - as is Sportsworld Terenure).

I dont suppose theres a specialist in Galway/Limerick/Athlone..

BoB_BoT

to the best of my knowledge eurorunner there's no specialist place in athlone, have had a look, only the usualy places that sell off the shelf and that's it.
plus the place dudara will send them to you.

daveirl

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