MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
Anyone recommend one, do they work well?
Some background...
I've been running 2 or 3 years, 3 or 4 mile loops almost entirely off road. Fairly regular, at least once a week though with some lapses.
Went out with some friends a few months back and covered twice my normal distance with a mixture of on and off road, suffered really badly with both knees but particularly the left.
My running shoes were a bit shot tbh so rested up for a few weeks, got my gait looked at (over-pronate on my right foot and apparently I'm quite heavy footed) and a new pair of shoes (K-Swiss Blade Max Stability). Helped a bit but still some discomfort over my usual distance so decided on a much longer lay off.
Finally went out again this morning (~3 months on), 4 mile almost all on road with a little bit of off-camber singletrack thrown in (couldn't resist!). Knee was fine on all but the singletrack, without wanting to jump to conclusions I'm thinking of limiting my routes to avoid the uneven stuff.
I know I need to take it easy for a while, but long term would a decent support help for those excursions through woodland?
Probably not. But I'm not qualified to answer. I think it really depends on the source of the knee pain. Or to put it another way I think often the knee pain is the symptom of a problem, rather than the problem itself. (But then again it might not be)
For me, and as anecdotal evidence it's as much use a chocolate tea pot, just looking at those K-swiss things make my knees hurt.
What I've noticed is that if I run on off-road in a relatively rigid, and high heel shoes like that, then rather than my foot just conforming to all the bumps and undulations, the whole shoe pivots about, twisting my ankles and knees. Whereas with thin ones my foot tends to just wrap round the obstacle and leave my ankles and knees unstressed.
But I've no idea if this is applicable to you too.
I would say not too. Knee supports do just that, as in they take some of the support away from what muscles and tendons usually do. Muscles and tendons really support joints, so by adding support you are decreasing the strength of the muscles and tendons, which equals more problems.
If its really that much of a problem go to a physio or doc.
...take your trainers back too and buy some cheap ones 🙂
Face facts gnarl dog- your knees may be beyond repair 😛
Stop buying shiny bits and go see a really good sports pyhsio.
I had terrible knee pain one ride, GP diagnosed tendonitis & told me to rest for a month. Did that then a first gentle ride caused knee pain straight away, more rest and no difference. Saw a recommended private Physio who measured me and looked at things and diagnosed bent hips which caused knees to be off kilter giving pain. 2 trips and some exercises cured it.
IMO stability / support shoes only 'work' on a perfectly flat surface like a treadmill or road.
I would recommend that you get in touch with a private sports physio - ask for recommendations from a running club and they should be able to diagnose your problem. The support will not cure the problem.
You'll have to lay out about £150 in total for a consultation and a couple of treatments but this should result in a lasting solution which is worth it IMO.
Incidently when I first tried running years ago, I got a similar analysis, heavy footed, over-pronate, buy these Nike structure Triax.
I now realise the shop was analysing the symptoms rather than the cause. I.e weak muscles not used to running and long stride akin almost to a modified walking gait, again due to not having run much, and were selling a shoe to try and mask these faults. Being told just take smaller steps at a faster pace and be patient would have solved most of my problems. Of course whether I would have listened is a different matter 🙂
just looking at those K-swiss things make my knees hurt
Cheers Ian, the K-Swiss made my eyes hurt!
My knee pain is likely to come from years of abuse (skateboarding) and probably exaggerated by running/poor technique etc. I'm actually trying to focus a little more on improving this.
The New Balance shoes I had before were dedicated off road and much thinner so I take your point.
The K-Swiss are very nice to run in and provide a fair bit of cushioning (heavy footed) on road. That's what I wanted as I'd been intending to up my distance which would have inevitably included more road miles.
I'm happy with the shoes, they seem just right for what I want right now, just wondering if some additional knee support is worthwhile.
Scruff, I fear you may be right it's eventually caught up with me 🙁
Things seem to be heading in the right direction though so I guess I'll hang fire a little and see how it goes. I'm basing this on one morning run and not wanting to jump to conclusions.
I can sacrifice a few off road miles, or am I just putting off the inevitable?!
Cheers all.