Follow-up : Runners Knee details

Question
QUESTION: I am 25 year old female, and I have been running for about a year. I usually run 10-15 miles per week. I weigh about 128lbs.

My question is: Is it safe for me to wear a girls junior running shoe instead of a ladies?  I currently wear an Asics Gel Cumulus and have a neutral foot. I often do suffer with runners knee and wear knee supports on both knees when running. Other than this I don't suffer with any other injuries/problems.

Money is tight and I am dreading having to pay out a lot of money for my next pair of running shoes. I was wondering if buying a junior shoe would be ok or a big no-no..?

ANSWER: Hi Rebecca
The only shoe you need to run in is the one that you feel comfortable with and works for you.The shoe companies are always trying to promote another sale for a bunch of BS research.You can not design a shoe for the millions of individuals all over the world PERIOD.In regards to your runners knee which actually has a name called Chondromalacia in which i have treated many many individuals over 25 years and myself as my first client with a 100% success rate.If you want some info on this to correct this get back to me with a detailed description of your history and when it started to give you problems and the symptoms leading up to discovery of the situation and be very specific.It can be corrected very easily Rebecca and life will become beautiful on your future runs again.PS...Give up the knee supports because they just mask the situation your trying to diagnose and resolve for good.

All the very best
to you Rebecca

John

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi John, thanks so much for your response.

In regards to the chondromalacia - I have suffered for many years since about the age of 11. I used to dance competitively and had to wear supports on both knees for this, and also other school sports such as athletics, netball, hockey.  It started with a hot feeling pain and some swelling during dance/sports and then this moved on to pain and swelling for a few days after dance/sports.
I saw my GP at the age of 12 who told my mother that the back of my knee caps were rough and therefore causing friction when I danced or did sports. He recommended knee supports during sport/dance and told my mother that it is a fairly common problem in young people and that I would eventually grow out of it. He also said that if the problem did persist a surgical procedure to scrape and smooth the back of the knee cap could be performed.
I left school and gave up dance at the age of 16, and regretfully stopped exercising all together. The problem with my knees obviously stopped too.  
I assumed I had grown out of the condition as the GP said I would, until just over a year ago when I took up running and within the first week the problem started again and I was left with pain/swelling for a week and had to rest.  I tried wearing elasticated sports knee supports but they did not help so I invested in large supports with velcro straps and a hole for the knee cap at the front.  These supports do help prevent the pain and swelling however they do not stop it completely and I often have to cut a long run short because I can feel my knees getting hot and painful. If I continue to run and ignore this pain (yes, someone recommended I try this) it gets worse and worse and as soon as I get home and remove the supports my knees swell and require ice and ibuprofen.  I can be left with pain when walking for up to a week afterwards if I continue to run when it's painful however usually I run then rest the next day, run then rest etc.  I should also add that running downhill causes the most pain.  I have also tried to run without the supports but can't get further then about 2 miles without the hot feeling/pain starting, whereas with the supports I can manage 5-6 miles before the pain begins.

I have had to drop out of training for a 10-mile run because I could not get further then 7 miles during training without being in agony afterwards and it's very frustrating!

I would be eternally grateful if you could help solve this problem for me as I really don't think surgery is the answer.

Rebecca

Answer
Hi Rebecca
First thing you want to do is stop running right a way because you are just going to do further damage and will take longer to correct your situation.Next you will be fine over time so don't freak out and get depressed.You will be running again and enjoying it without the pain i assure you as long as you have a great deal of patience and work consistently on the rehab program i recommend.Next this situation can be corrected 100% without surgery.Why do i know?,because i went threw this years ago and since helped many many years since.Doctors are worthless when it comes to sports injuries and many other health related issues since there limited to the generic way of the medical system which was taut in school.Many many suffer because of this which is very sad.This has to be corrected.The only thing that i can't tell you is how long it will take because everybody heals differently and differs in there ability to do what is necessary and make it a priority and truly believes that it will happen.It took me 8 months because i first had to hit the medical books and get the answers and then move forward with the rehab.All because a number of doctors couldn't give me conclusive answers to my problem and out of 4 2 wanted to operate to see what the problem was.I have copied and put together some case history and individuals testimonials for your consideration with prescription to take care of it,but i would really like to talk to you over the phone so i could get this information to you with 100% clarity on how you should move forward with your recovery.You have suffered to long at the hands of total incompetence from you no who.There is no charge for this if you you decide to fund the call from UK.My phone number is 505 271 5909 here in new mexico where one of your marathoners Paula Radcliffe who is a friend of mind and is current world record holder in marathon..2:15 trains.Let me know what would be the best time for you and i to talk if you want and you can use my personal email to respond [email protected].

All the very best to you
Rebecca





Hi Pettina
Just what i thought.I have copied a recent case history on the problem and a prescription on how to take care of it with some follow up testimonials from scott lowell and another youn lady.Pettina,the most important thing is patience,consistincy.Everybody heels at different rates depending on the severity of the situation.My self it took 8 months.If you have any questions just get in touch,and keep me posted on your progress like scott did.Also start taking 500mg of vit c with your three meals a day.This is like gold for active people and athletes and yoga instructors.

To a successfull rehap

John



Subject: Knee recovery

Question:
Hi John,
Its Scott Lovell here again.  Thought I would give you an update on the
knee.  I am into the full swing of refereeing and now doing up to 4x90
min games per week.  Great newsw is I have absolutely no problems at
all.  Am back to normal - jogging, running and sprinting.  Thanks again
for all your advice.  I feel well and truly back on track and actually
feel fitter than ever.  Absolutely no soreness at all now, so you can
imagine I am really happy about it.  I obviously keep up the bike riding
during the week, to ensure no reoccurance

Cheers,
Scott

Subject: runner's knee

Question:
Dear John,

Your program is working like a charm, I felt such a huge noticeable  
difference when walking up stairs. Thanx. My question is how much running
is a little running? I ran 1.5 m 2x on my on and with the running class
I ran 3m. This is in a one week span. I also did 5 spin cycle classes
this week. I tried the kickboxing but it messed me up. So I won't be
doing that any time soon. I'm trying hard not to gain weight while I
rehabilitate. I have quite a bit of a metabolism problem. What do you think?
-------------------------

Followup To

Question -
Dear John,
 I suspect that I have runner's knee. I've been stepping 2 to 3 times
a week for the past three years. I would sometimes have pain around the
knee especially if the next day after class I would wear heels. I
didn't think much of it until recently. Two months ago, I started running. I
loved it so much I was running 6 miles 2x a wk and then 1/2hr with my
running class.  The day after one of my runs I had excruciating pain
about 2 inches under the knee between the knee and the ankle.  It stop me
in my tracks for a few minutes and I had to walk very slowly. The next
day the pain was gone. I done some digging, it looks like I could do
some spinning and I need to do some quad strengthening. My question is
how do I do it? Take a spin class first then do my quad work or in the
reverse? When is it ok for me to go back to running? Do you think my case
is severe? I also found out that my pronation is off and my feet do not
rotate enough. Are there special running sneakers to help me? I run in
reebox speed runners for men because they are so comfortable. Do you
think these are good enough for me?

Answer -
Hi Revel
Pain 2 inches below the knee would be pantella tendonitis.Your case is
no severe and you will be fine and you can continue to run a little as
you work on my prescription for rehap.as explained in the attached
letter from a privious client.Your running shoes are just fine.Don't
change.Start adding 500mg vit.c to your 3 meals a day to assist recovery and
don't ever stop the C.Follow my program and keep me posted how it is
going.You will be is good as new in no time.The key is patience and focus
and consistency Revel.I would lay off the steping for a few weeks till
you get well into my program.Let me know if you have any questions.

To a successfull rehap.

John


Scott Lovell Asks in Category Jogging & Running ...

Subject:  Knee soreness
Private:  no

Question:  Hi,
I am 30 years old and have never really had any knee problems.  I am
very annoyed because I feel I have brought this on myself.  I run about 3
times a week, usually on a treadmill.  2 weeks ago I was doing some
lunges with hand weights at the gym.  Admittingly I strained a little and
had probaly used weights too heavy.  3 days later I had a run at the
gym and after 20 mins my knee was really painful.  I iced it up that
night and the following day and then it felt fine.  I have no soreness
walking and none on a very hard workout on the stepper.  2 weeks later I
had a light 5 min run and suffered no pain, then did a 30 min step with
no pain and no sorenes the next day.  2 days later I did a fitness test,
running 3.2km in 12 mins, then 2x100 meter sprints after it.  During
this I felt no pain, but an hourr later I could feel the pain and its
pretty sore again.  2 days since that, my k nee is feeling fine again.  
Does it sound serious?  Have I just pushed it too quickly?  I'm seeing a
physio in 3 days to be cautious.  The pain feels around my knee cap
really - never suffered this before?

Answer:  Hi scott
Great discription of your situation.Thanks for that.Sure makes my job
easier.You  have a slight case of chondro malacia.It isa disintegration
of the patella and femoral cartilage surfaces,resulting in uneven rough
gliding motion between these structures.Any disruption of the normal
smooth gliding motion of this structure will result in cartilage
damage.This is why your feeling where you do.Bottom line not serious but could
be if you don't adress it now.Your knee tracks like a train on the
railrod tracks,and it got out of the groves,jumped track do to some of
those exercises you just did.
To fix this there are 2 things you need to do.First start riding an
exercise bike for 30 to 40 min.3 to 4 times a week.Not a regular bike
except for rec purposes.You want a med to high spin with med to hard
tension.This will retrack the knee and also sand down the back of the knee
cap and smooth it out and also strengthen quads.Second start doing leg
extensions,curls,adductor,abdductor work.Thats it scott,cancel your
physio save $$$.Your situation does sound miner since it goes away quickly
so you should respond rapidly.I would continue with this routine as a
way to stay ahead of the curve as they say.To stay active you have to
incorporate prevention consistently or things will catch up with you,and
that is a promise.Hope this gives you a plan to work with.Let me know
how it is progressing and if you have any other questions.

To your success

John







Only those who risk going to far can
possibly find out how far one can go

         T.S. Elliot