Treadmills - bad for the knees?

Think treadmills are much better on the knees than normal running on tarmac/concrete however running in general really isn't good on the knees. If you have knee trouble then using the cross trainer instead may be the better bet.
 
Good and bad, depends massively on your knee's and why you feel the need to protect them.

IE, do you have "bad" knees for whatever reason, I do and though I was told running and impact exercise would be bad and low impact stuff like cycling would be great, thats bull. It turns out impact isn't an issue while high rep full movement things like cycling are terrible for me.

If you have no issues running treadmills tend to offer a lot more "give" than really any surface while being stable and consistant. The only downside long term, if it matters, is that real running with less consistant surfaces will strengthen your knee's better, because you'll be making lots of adjustments and moving left and right, up and down, your knee's will work a lot harder to stabilise your legs. WHich would be largely why someone who can run 20km on a treadmill will be knackered after 10-15km on the road, the extra workload on untrained support muscles.

So if you're looking for a great cardio workout, while reducing the impact and load on your knee's, treadmills are fantastic. If you've got bad knees to start with, make sure running of any kind is fine on your knee's.

If you do run outside, grass is softest, but hidden holes can jar the crap out of your knees when you hit them, if no grass, road tarmac is FAR softer and better on your knees than concrete paving slabs.

I use a treadmill, but when I do run or walk outside I'll often go stupidly early or late and go on less busy roads rather than run on the pavement, it makes a MASSIVE difference.
 
Also, try running without shoes, so you don't hit your heal first before the balls of your feet. Hitting down with your heals is apparently the same as hitting them with a sledgehammer, or so I read. :p
 
G-MAN2004 said:
Also, try running without shoes, so you don't hit your heal first before the balls of your feet. Hitting down with your heals is apparently the same as hitting them with a sledgehammer, or so I read. :p
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I know it's not available for many but I run on sand and find that it massively differs compared to treadmill running - as you said, balls first - it also makes my strides shorter but quicker.

I try to alternate my running - sand - treadmill so I get a bit of a mix. I definitely tire physically quickly when on sand but am able to keep going longer despite that because I get so bored on the treadmill.
 
G-MAN2004 said:
Also, try running without shoes, so you don't hit your heal first before the balls of your feet. Hitting down with your heals is apparently the same as hitting them with a sledgehammer, or so I read. :p
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I wouldn't do this. Trainers provide cushioning and support that will be vital if you're starting out. Barefoot runners have generally been doing it their whole lives.
 
G-MAN2004 said:
Also, try running without shoes, so you don't hit your heal first before the balls of your feet. Hitting down with your heals is apparently the same as hitting them with a sledgehammer, or so I read. :p
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I think I've seen a similar article to you. The foot lands differently when running barefoot to dramatically reduce impact.

Some interesting 'second skin' style concept trainers being produced to allow this style of running but stop your foot getting torn to shreds.
 
G-MAN2004 said:
Also, try running without shoes, so you don't hit your heal first before the balls of your feet. Hitting down with your heals is apparently the same as hitting them with a sledgehammer, or so I read. :p
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Not from what ive learnt by looking into it.

Running on your toes is good for sprinters but you get no cushioning so all the force goes up through your feet into your knees.
Its Usual a faster way of running but puts more strain on your knees and Hamstrings.

Running on heels through to toes Provides cushioning and is more natural movement of the foot and is better causing less stress on the body for you over longer distances.

Dont know where you got the Sledgehammer bit from:p
 
Without Shoes.. Not something I'd recomend. Niether is running on your toes.. to much load on the front of the knee..

This isn't quite black and white as it depends on so many factors; the way you run, posture, alignment, poor foot-ware, poor flexibility and so on.

I can say from experience that poor posture for has taken it's toll on my knees and I've been running since school days. I tend to walk oslightly forward on my toes and outwards. I have had to have a micro-fracture surgery on my left knee last October and I'm scheduled to have the other done this September. At present I can cycle around but can't climb stairs too well and I'm not convinced if I'll be able to run again only time will tell.

Generally, treadmills are much better hen road running as there is a slight dampen but my advice to anyone wishing to start running.. get GAIT test (normally free at specialist shops or a tenner at the most), get decent trainers tailored to your feet and running style, and pay for a personal trainer to show you correct posture and technique. Get this right from the start and you won't have too many problems.. but get a GAIT test no matter what..
 
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Look up proper running technique, the balls before heels thing is very important.

If you're doing this then you'll need to either switch to crosstrainer or run outside on grass/sand.

Andr3w has a point about raising the incline, this will spread the impact but strain the tendons around the knee more. (Less impact, more tendon strain...I'd try it to see if it works for you)

Finally take some supplements to for your joints. Cod liver oil and glucosamine made a difference to me when I started Taekwondo :)
 
One issue that no-one has picked up on with running ontreadmills is that people set the speed to what they are trying to achieve and then run, as you get tired during your workout your legs struggle to keep up with the speed of the treadmill and this can result in twisiting of the knees which can be pretty bad for you.
 
Unless you have a pre-existing knee condition - no, running is not bad for the knees. I don't know where people get this tripe from. Running on a treadmill is a great way to start running whilst you build up leg strength. I would avoid running off road if you are just starting out. I made that mistake.
 
UltimateBadger said:
Unless you have a pre-existing knee condition - no, running is not bad for the knees. I don't know where people get this tripe from. Running on a treadmill is a great way to start running whilst you build up leg strength. I would avoid running off road if you are just starting out. I made that mistake.
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Don't think anyone suggested running was bad for your knee's, though MANY physio's will incorrectly tell you impact exercise is automatically terrible for you if you've had a knee/leg injury, when plenty of injuries are fine with impact but terrible with full motion after.

Either way, running on concrete actually IS fairly bad for you in general. Its a completely un-natural surface with no give, no ones been running on concrete for the last 10k years ;)

Running tracks most certainly aren't made of it, I'm not sure exactly what they are made of these days, something like tarmac? Its a slightly, not bouncy, but significantly more absorbant material. But no matter if something is actually bad for you, there are better surfaces to run on, and a newer runner will have less strong knees and legs and you'll find as you build up tolerance and strength an easier surface will be better for you in terms of avoiding injury and pain while your legs are starting out, at their weakest and most vunerable to injury.
 
I have bad arthritis in both my knees (because of cartlidge removals) and I'm a veteran of 8 marathons and countless half marathons.
I have just completed 80 miles since Feb 1st on my new NordicTrack C2500 treadmill and I can say without doubt it is less damaging on the knees.
Road running is ruthless because there is no give where a well cushioned treadmill makes things easier.
I've read comments on these forums where people have said that running on a treadmill is just lifting your legs - complete rubbish.
10k on a road or 10k on a treadmill is still 10k running except it's less damaging.
I absolutely know 100% that when I get back out on the road it will be harder.
 
Hope this doesn't class as a medical post but where did you get you knees checked out? Was your first port of call your GP or straight elsewhere i.e physo, etc?
 
JamesU2005 said:
Hope this doesn't class as a medical post but where did you get you knees checked out? Was your first port of call your GP or straight elsewhere i.e physo, etc?
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It was actually straight to A&E.
The first one was when I was a black belt and I went to sidekick my partner and didn't turn my knee with the kick :eek:
Because we were so hard I had to crawl out of the Dojo with no help and it was at least an hour before somebody decided to come to my aid, saw the state of my knee, went back to the Sensei and then called an ambulance.
I still wince at how some people could have done that to me and I never went back.

The second one was at a large Rockabilly concert of all gigs.
I was playing guitar for the headlining act and on the first number I decided to do a sideways shuffle along the stage and my knee gave.
I ordered the DJ to shut the curtains where I then dropped to the stage screaming in agony.
Once again you could see the internal damage of a misshapen knee but in true 'the show must go on' attitude I asked them to get me a stool and I carried on for an hour.
With about 10 minutes to go the ambulance crew were waiting to take me away.
 
dmpoole said:
10k on a road or 10k on a treadmill is still 10k running except it's less damaging.
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Absolute garbage. I find it hard to believe that given the amount of running you claim to have done, you can't tell the difference between running on a treadmill and road running.

I too can claim to have clocked up a fair few miles on the run. I invariably run a few minutes faster on the treadmill. I'm sure this is a combination of not having to battle gradients, the weather, varying terrain conditions under-foot etc...
 
Smithy said:
Absolute garbage. I find it hard to believe that given the amount of running you claim to have done, you can't tell the difference between running on a treadmill and road running.
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Can you read all my post please before you go spouting off.
It is so infuriating that people read a little bit and then quote on it.
Somebody has just done it in another thread.

I'll give you a clue since you can't be bothered to read -

dmpoole said:
Road running is ruthless because there is no give where a well cushioned treadmill makes things easier.

I absolutely know 100% that when I get back out on the road it will be harder.
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Apologise anytime you feel like it.
 
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dmpoole said:
Can you read all my post please before you go spouting off.
It is so infuriating that people read a little bit and then quote on it.
Somebody has just done it in another thread.

I'll give you a clue since you can't be bothered to read -



Apologise anytime you feel like it.
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First off all, I don't care what other people are doing in other threads, or how you've come to draw comparisons between me and them. It bares no relevance to this conversation and only serves to highlight your **** poor attitude.

I'd actually considered a misinterpretation of your post on my part, and depending on your reply, my next post would have been to either ask for clarification (with an offered apology for misinterpretation), or enquire as to the obvious contradiction. But since you're incapable of replying without feeling like your ego is at stake, or that I'm attacking your all-wise, demi-god like status that you've adopted, then I won't bother with either.

We'll leave it there shall we, Captain Experience?
 
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