4 ms·

Efficient or not (the conclusion may be premature due oversimplified numbers, IMHO), the repetitive impact of running will wear down the cartilage and meniscus,

by drtgh 2y ago

Efficient or not (the conclusion may be premature due oversimplified numbers, IMHO), the repetitive impact of running will wear down the cartilage and meniscus, essentially causing premature ageing of the knees when used routinely; this variable should be considered as a deferred efficiency cost also. It doesn't seem that our body sees running as a method of travel, given our inability to regenerate cartilage and due the dehydration through cooling, it sounds more like a momentarily needed resource for survival.

echelon_musk 2y ago
> the repetitive impact of running will wear down the cartilage and meniscus, essentially causing premature ageing of the knees when used routinely This concerned me as someone who benefits from running. I found the following study which says "Cumulative number of years running, number of marathons completed, weekly mileage, and mean running pace were not significant predictors for arthritis". https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37555313/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37555313/
- carlmr 2y ago
  I found running style is a major contributor. I got knee pain preparing for a 10K run in my early 20s. When I stopped for a month it would go aways, but when I started again it would instantly come back. I then learned about natural running (forefoot strike, using your joints for suspensions) which made logical sense to me. I could run again, even every day, and even more than a decade later no knee pain when running. It does have the added benefit that you don't even need expensive running shoes anymore, because you use your body's joints for suspension instead of some gel midsole. There is a slightly higher risk of ankle injury, which did happen once in over a decade. But otherwise I think natural running just makes so much sense. You should also ease into it, because you need to train your calf muscles to do a bit more work.
  - echelon_musk 2y ago
    Thank you for providing this information. I've been getting hip pain when running so I'll see if I can incorporate and test the effects of a forefoot strike.
    - mattlondon 2y ago
      Every time I have had a leg-related running injury (knees, ankles, calfs, hip - you name it) the solution from the physio has always included doing squats. Now if I feel a niggle coming somewhere I just do a bunch more squats throughout the day (whenever I remember really) and that usually solves it after a week or two. Nothing super strenuous - just like 10 to 15, perhaps 2 or 3 times a day I have tried minimal shoes as well as super-spongy ones over the years, or trying to change heel strike Vs forefoot rtc and it seems it is only squats that make a difference! Good luck.
      - carlmr 2y ago
        Squats are one of the best exercises you can do for overall health anyway. - Big muscle groups activated all at once - Burns a lot of calories - Strengthens a whole chain of muscles necessary for good posture - If done right (deep squats) makes you more flexible So do them even if you don't have pain and you'll be better off anyway

by drtgh 2y ago

echelon_musk 2y ago

> the repetitive impact of running will wear down the cartilage and meniscus, essentially causing premature ageing of the knees when used routinely This concerned me as someone who benefits from running. I found the following study which says "Cumulative number of years running, number of marathons completed, weekly mileage, and mean running pace were not significant predictors for arthritis". https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37555313/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37555313/

carlmr 2y ago
I found running style is a major contributor. I got knee pain preparing for a 10K run in my early 20s. When I stopped for a month it would go aways, but when I started again it would instantly come back. I then learned about natural running (forefoot strike, using your joints for suspensions) which made logical sense to me. I could run again, even every day, and even more than a decade later no knee pain when running. It does have the added benefit that you don't even need expensive running shoes anymore, because you use your body's joints for suspension instead of some gel midsole. There is a slightly higher risk of ankle injury, which did happen once in over a decade. But otherwise I think natural running just makes so much sense. You should also ease into it, because you need to train your calf muscles to do a bit more work.
- echelon_musk 2y ago
  Thank you for providing this information. I've been getting hip pain when running so I'll see if I can incorporate and test the effects of a forefoot strike.
  - mattlondon 2y ago
    Every time I have had a leg-related running injury (knees, ankles, calfs, hip - you name it) the solution from the physio has always included doing squats. Now if I feel a niggle coming somewhere I just do a bunch more squats throughout the day (whenever I remember really) and that usually solves it after a week or two. Nothing super strenuous - just like 10 to 15, perhaps 2 or 3 times a day I have tried minimal shoes as well as super-spongy ones over the years, or trying to change heel strike Vs forefoot rtc and it seems it is only squats that make a difference! Good luck.
    - carlmr 2y ago
      Squats are one of the best exercises you can do for overall health anyway. - Big muscle groups activated all at once - Burns a lot of calories - Strengthens a whole chain of muscles necessary for good posture - If done right (deep squats) makes you more flexible So do them even if you don't have pain and you'll be better off anyway