4 ms·

Do you know if running on the beach (or sand) is better on the joints? It seems like it would be better on the joints, plus it seems harder (better exercise).

Do you know if running on the beach (or sand) is better on the joints? It seems like it would be better on the joints, plus it seems harder (better exercise). And hey, you're on a beach.

lfowles 11y ago
I would guess worse, but in different ways. Your foot can shift in the sand left/right when landing, causing havoc on other joints (knee, hip) when you apply pressure and they're getting unexpected horizontal motion.
- fezz 11y ago
  I run barefoot all the time on the beach, at the water line when the tide is lower so it's nice and flat and you can see surface well. I have no problems with my shins and knees since I'm running mostly mid to slightly forefoot strikes. The forefoot absorbs the shock rather than pounding the knee and hip with a direct impact. When I run with shoes on pavement, I get some knee and hip issues, especially if I don't pay attention to my foot strikes with respect to changing pavement.
mikestew 11y ago
Do be cautious that you go both ways, as the beach is usually angled, and running at just the one angle supposedly isn't good for you (crowned roads being the other thing to watch for). I heard this "tip" years ago, so who knows what the source was or if it's even valid. My anecdotal data says that if you don't live near a beach, dial back a bit while on vacation at a beach. I can't say why, but too much leaves me with connective tissue soreness. Probably just not being used to it, because I otherwise typically run a lot.
runamok 11y ago
All this "bad for the joints" stuff is mostly urban legend. One ref but there are others: https://fitness.stackexchange.com/questions/6298/do-joints-wear-out-from-exercise https://fitness.stackexchange.com/questions/6298/do-joints-w... Running in sand usually causes quite a bit more load on your achilles tendons. The pitch also causes one foot to underpronate and one to overpronate which is also usually a bad idea. Most of peoples' issues relate to bad form, muscle imbalances, etc. Although I will grant if your form is terrible you are probably going to put weird stresses on your knees, etc. I blame our incredibly sedentary lifestyle. I sit probably 60+ hours a week (job, commute, home, etc.) and run only about 4 hours a week (~30 miles). I have been racing and running for close to 25 years and most of my current issues came from very hard training in the past and not taking time off when I got injured. When I just run 4 to 6 miles "easy" I am basically injury free as long as I supplement with a few other exercises such as single leg partial squats and monster walks with a rubber band. These are mostly only required because of my sedentary job and not the running though.

Do you know if running on the beach (or sand) is better on the joints? It seems like it would be better on the joints, plus it seems harder (better exercise). And hey, you're on a beach.

lfowles 11y ago

I would guess worse, but in different ways. Your foot can shift in the sand left/right when landing, causing havoc on other joints (knee, hip) when you apply pressure and they're getting unexpected horizontal motion.

fezz 11y ago
I run barefoot all the time on the beach, at the water line when the tide is lower so it's nice and flat and you can see surface well. I have no problems with my shins and knees since I'm running mostly mid to slightly forefoot strikes. The forefoot absorbs the shock rather than pounding the knee and hip with a direct impact. When I run with shoes on pavement, I get some knee and hip issues, especially if I don't pay attention to my foot strikes with respect to changing pavement.

mikestew 11y ago

Do be cautious that you go both ways, as the beach is usually angled, and running at just the one angle supposedly isn't good for you (crowned roads being the other thing to watch for). I heard this "tip" years ago, so who knows what the source was or if it's even valid. My anecdotal data says that if you don't live near a beach, dial back a bit while on vacation at a beach. I can't say why, but too much leaves me with connective tissue soreness. Probably just not being used to it, because I otherwise typically run a lot.

runamok 11y ago

All this "bad for the joints" stuff is mostly urban legend. One ref but there are others: https://fitness.stackexchange.com/questions/6298/do-joints-wear-out-from-exercise https://fitness.stackexchange.com/questions/6298/do-joints-w... Running in sand usually causes quite a bit more load on your achilles tendons. The pitch also causes one foot to underpronate and one to overpronate which is also usually a bad idea. Most of peoples' issues relate to bad form, muscle imbalances, etc. Although I will grant if your form is terrible you are probably going to put weird stresses on your knees, etc. I blame our incredibly sedentary lifestyle. I sit probably 60+ hours a week (job, commute, home, etc.) and run only about 4 hours a week (~30 miles). I have been racing and running for close to 25 years and most of my current issues came from very hard training in the past and not taking time off when I got injured. When I just run 4 to 6 miles "easy" I am basically injury free as long as I supplement with a few other exercises such as single leg partial squats and monster walks with a rubber band. These are mostly only required because of my sedentary job and not the running though.