Obviously this is not what I WISH my workouts were this week... but it is my reality!
On Friday, I discovered something that I sort of had the feeling of for awhile... running aggravates my knee WAY LESS than walking does! If I go for a walk in the morning, my knee feels so weak. But if I run, it doesn't feel perfect, but it doesn't feel nearly as bad as walking does.
On Friday, I discovered something that I sort of had the feeling of for awhile... running aggravates my knee WAY LESS than walking does! If I go for a walk in the morning, my knee feels so weak. But if I run, it doesn't feel perfect, but it doesn't feel nearly as bad as walking does.
5/27- 5 mile walk. Woop-dee-doo. Knee felt SO WEAK. It was horrible.
5/29- 4 mile run with a short walking warm up and cool down. Knee feels stronger running than it does walk. WTF!?
Any expert opinions on why walking makes my knee feel a lot weaker than running does?
I found I don't engage my muscles when I am walking around. I'm trying to really focus on making muscles with each step and it makes a BIG difference. Just a little bit of something to try for you!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I have thought of that and on my walks try to think about the muscles I am using... making sure my glutes are doing their thang in stuff like that. It's a weird feeling, isn't it?
DeleteOK, it sounds to me like a type of Runner's Knee. When you walk aggressively/quickly there are more compressive forces on the patella-femoral joint than running easily/efficiently. I would stop all the activities that put pressure on the knee--lunges, squats, plyometrics, and the hip stretch (anything with excessive knee flexion/compression), and ice it, rest it. With RKnee, sometimes even the bursa under the kneecap is inflamed...Not an expert by any means, but it is my 2 cents worth :)
ReplyDeleteI def appreciate your two cents worth! I definitely do a lot of hip stretching (couch stretch) and that puts A LOT of pressure on my knee. As for squats plyos and lunges- holy shit have barely done them since my surgery 14 months ago! SO sad. :(
DeleteWhen they scoped my knee, they cleaned out scar tissue under my knee cap. Maybe that is contributing? Like it is still inflammed? I don't know. All I know is that I never had problems with pressure on my kneecap until they scoped it and cleaned out underneath it.... something they never told me they were going to do. The plan was to remove the plica- which they did do. But then they "cleaned it out".
That is so funny you posted that, because a few days ago I was going to ask you if walking seems to make your knee worse than running! You are such a fast walker, that it is possible you are putting strain on your knee in ways that running does not. You may overstretch certain ligaments/tendons in ways that cause inflammation. Maybe try slowing down your walking a bit when you warm up/cool down and see if that helps, and even try slowing your running down a little (or go at a comfortable pace without pushing it or overstretching). Just my thoughts!
ReplyDeleteThat's crazy! I could try to slow down my walking. I think I am just naturally a fast walker to begin with but I know I push myself a bit more when it is counting as my workout. Thanks for your suggestions and thoughts. You ladies are giving me a lot to think about.
DeleteThats pretty crazy and it sounds like other commenters have given better input than I would have. One thing I keep in mind after my hip surgery is that there is scar tissue/restrictions in that area plus is just weaker. I don't think those things have anything to do with your walk/run issue but just something to keep in mind!
ReplyDeleteThat's definitely something I wondered... if my knee will just ALWAYS be weak. It will be very frustrating if the doctor tells me that is the case because before the surgery he said it will take 6 weeks to be back to normal and that I will be "better, faster and stronger!" I remember him specifically saying that. If I go back in and he says that it will always just be more weak, I am going to feel very taken advantage of... omg I am feeling so fired up right now.
DeleteI wish I had an expert opinion but I don't so I will just send you a virtual HUG!
ReplyDeleteI can feel your frustration in every post and I really hope you find a doctor soon who can give you the explanation you want and deserve!
Thank you friend!
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