Meri Steinmetz

Barefooters
Sep 16, 2018
10
2
3
Hi BF community.
I have a bit of a problem. I have transitioned to barefoot running and minimalist (mostly minimal in earth runner sandals) for the last 2 years. I've had a few injuries that mostly I can point to my overzealousness as the cause.
I have been training for a half marathon, I trained mostly in my sandals, but when the race came it was raining and 30 degrees. I had to run in shoes, but they are soft star, totally flat, thin, flexible shoes.5mm between me and the ground, 0 drop. I got to about mile 10-11 and had some intense knee pain that had been present before on some longer runs but hadn't persisted.
Here, a day after still with the pain, I realize it is runners knee which I haven't experienced since I ran with orthotics in college maybe 3-4 years ago.
I'm worried that it is back and why. My right side is almost an inch shorter than my left (the bones were physically measured), but with running minimalist I figured I would adapt to that pattern, people have overcome far worse discrepancies without issues. My tendonitis and PF that occurred during my last 2 year transitioning have all been on my right side.
Is my right side always just going to take a beating because it's short? Should I be seeing someone? I noticed that I have less problems when I incorporate a lifting schedule of some sort. It's just hard to keep up with.
I want to be able to run more half and a full sooner or later, and right now that doesn't look like a reasonable idea. Please help!
 
... knee pain that had been present before on some longer runs but hadn't persisted...

Here's your red flag. With your leg length issue, you may need more time to adapt. Training runs should be problem-free because you'll be pushing harder in a race. If I were you, I'd take some time to heal and then work up to 13-mile training runs with no niggles before racing another half. I'm pretty conservative, yes, but I got that way by being way too optimistic way too many times. :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Random
Sorry for your injury. I'll contact one of the docs for you. Please be patient...get it? Patient? Hee. :)
 
That sounds like a tricky one if the bones are actually different lengths as that would tilt your hips at an angle.
I've just come back from a knee injury that I had been trying to clear for around 2 years and that was due to hip misalignment. Once that was adjusted it took a few months for the muscles to adapt to the new positions and the knee started to come right again but it can be very frustrating.
Have you tried strengthening the inner thigh muscles, I did read that a great number of knee issues are caused by a weaker muscle in that area that then causes the kneecap to track to the outside. I'm sure the docs will have some advice for you though.

Neil
 
  • Like
Reactions: Random and Gordon
Th
That sounds like a tricky one if the bones are actually different lengths as that would tilt your hips at an angle.
I've just come back from a knee injury that I had been trying to clear for around 2 years and that was due to hip misalignment. Once that was adjusted it took a few months for the muscles to adapt to the new positions and the knee started to come right again but it can be very frustrating.
Have you tried strengthening the inner thigh muscles, I did read that a great number of knee issues are caused by a weaker muscle in that area that then causes the kneecap to track to the outside. I'm sure the docs will have some advice for you though.

Neil
thank you, yes my patella does track incorrectly and has in the past. I’ve run into this issue a few times when I was shoed in supportive, brooks shoes and orthotics. But haven’t had much of a bout with it since doing the barefoot running. I’ve done some reading about athletes that do ultras and iron mans with greater bone based leg length discrepancies. I just want to know if I should focus on strengthing my hips? Opening my gait? Should I enlist the help of a chiropractor, or a PT? Just looking for some suggestions to kick this bug to the curb for good.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Random
Should I enlist the help of a chiropractor, or a PT?

PT. Stuff like this is what they specialize in. Unless you think your problem is caused by spinal misalignment, I wouldn't go to the chiro. No doubt your legs are causing a spinal misalignment that a chiro could improve, but as soon as you stand up again it's going to come right back unless you start wearing a lift. What you're looking for is an optimal compensation strategy, not a fix.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Random
Meri These questions are really tough if not impossible over email because so much is going on when you run that might have to do with your foot strength and structure as well as gait pattern. We live in West Virginia and have a store with the gait lab which is about an hour from Washington DC if your close to hear it usually takes at least an hour to the even begin to sort these issues out and that is with being able to see what someone is doing. poor stability on 1 foot with a knee that tends to track in on landing are a couple big culprits to knee pain. Mark
 
Meri These questions are really tough if not impossible over email because so much is going on when you run that might have to do with your foot strength and structure as well as gait pattern. We live in West Virginia and have a store with the gait lab which is about an hour from Washington DC if your close to hear it usually takes at least an hour to the even begin to sort these issues out and that is with being able to see what someone is doing. poor stability on 1 foot with a knee that tends to track in on landing are a couple big culprits to knee pain. Mark
Thank you, Dr. Mark Cucuzzella!
 
Meri These questions are really tough if not impossible over email because so much is going on when you run that might have to do with your foot strength and structure as well as gait pattern. We live in West Virginia and have a store with the gait lab which is about an hour from Washington DC if your close to hear it usually takes at least an hour to the even begin to sort these issues out and that is with being able to see what someone is doing. poor stability on 1 foot with a knee that tends to track in on landing are a couple big culprits to knee pain. Mark


I would say that the tracking in my right knee does bring me in. My mobility on my right ankle is locked and less flexible than my left too- so that each time I land on the right it feels like there is more impact to my body than my left. I chocked that up to the discrepancy.
Thank you for your answer and suggestion. I originally am from NJ which is still a hike. Could you PM me a general address and a rate? What type of facility does a gait analysis?