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POLL: Best running surface for knees?

Originally posted by: Zugzwang152
what do you mean by "for knees"?
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Too much running on hard surfaces like concrete sidewalks and the like overly abuse your knees.
 
i thought she meant running on your knees....i was like "why the hell would you do that?!"😱
 
I have crap knees so i was wondering what the best surface is. My friend contends that it is a treadmill while I prefer a track. I thougnt a little AT poll would settle things. 😀
 
Soft beach sand (not the wet hard stuff by the water)

Of course, it's twice as much work as running on hard sand.
 
Originally posted by: notfred
Soft beach sand (not the wet hard stuff by the water)

Of course, it's twice as much work as running on hard sand.
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as long as you're burning more calories on the soft sand who cares?
 
Originally posted by: NewSc2
Originally posted by: notfred
Soft beach sand (not the wet hard stuff by the water)

Of course, it's twice as much work as running on hard sand.
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as long as you're burning more calories on the soft sand who cares?
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well, you wont feel like you've accomplished as much, seeing as 1 mile on soft sand is about the same amount of effort as 1.5 on packed sand. It's hard to run when the ground moves when you step on it.
 
I hear treadmills are easier on the knees since they have suspension and padded decks. But running on treadmills is just much much easier for some reason, cant get tired as quick.
 
Tracks (the red "ash" stuff) are good, treadmills are too.

The reason why you don't get as tired as quickly on a treadmill is because in a lot of cases, it just controls your speed really well, and you tire less quickly. That and you bounce off a little better.
 
With bad/weak knees you shouldn't be running. Try fast walking or riding a bicycle......much less impact damage to your knees. Remember those two knees of yours are usually the first body part to fail.
 
Hard to softer, of what I've run on:
Cement
asphalt
dirt
grass

A track is made for speed, usually, not to save your joints. In that case, it's not real soft.
Treadmill--I've never run on one.

You need to just do it and see which one makes you less sore. Give it time between tries for your body to heal up so you can tell the difference.
Or you could just ride a bike an eliminate the jarring of your joints. Or try rowing 🙂
 
Originally posted by: LakerGod
I have crap knees so i was wondering what the best surface is. My friend contends that it is a treadmill while I prefer a track. I thougnt a little AT poll would settle things. 😀
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Grass, dirt road etc.
 
i voted track. most high schools have a dirt track though. a college's rubber track is probably the best, in my experience. concrete has got to be the worst thing for you.
 
If it's an option, not running.

If you're looking for aerobic exercise, something like a spinning class or swimming laps (or even just hanging onto the edge of the pool and kicking) are far lower-impact with no significant difference in heart-rate elevation qualities.
 
I prefer rubber tracks. Those are really knee-friendly. I don't have bad knees, but I am 6'5" and 240 lbs, so my knees take a big impact when I run. This past spring I ran up to about three miles on a rubber indoor track. During the summer I switched to an outdoor asphalt track, and I could definately feel the difference. However, I bought a new pair of running shoes, and that helped more than a rubber track!
 
If your knees are that bad - walk. Nearly the same effect, much less impact. Your best investment shuld be a good set of running shoes.
 
Thanks for the reply guys. I was secretly hoping somebody would have an argument for why treadmilll are not good...haha.
 
I was reading the Running for Dummies book and bad knees are also caused by the way you run. You're supposed to push off your toes, land on your heel, roll off to the toes, and so on. Treadmills are fine for running but the book said it was best if it had an incline.
 
I run on a treadmill usually and its pretty easy on the knees. Some tracks I've seen have a rubber type padding that looks like gravel and that is really soft.
 
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