Hello, I'm new to these forums. Apologies if this has been posted already -- search didn't turn anything up.
The last few times I've run (in VFFs as the surface I was running on was a little too rough to go totally barefoot, which is what I prefer), I have experienced some significant pain on the posterior and inner part of my knee, as well as some swelling at the upper edge of the kneecap. I seem to have a lot of stiffness and tightness in one thigh.
It has lasted a few days now, so I spoke to a friend of mine who's a very competent physical therapist (whose opinion I take seriously). She looked at my feet and was shocked at how turned-in my ankles are, as a result of having so much pronation as to have essentially flat feet. Her recommendation -- not surprisingly -- was to stop running barefoot and to wear something with arch support.
I'm wondering if anyone here has had success dealing with similar conditions without giving up on barefoot running? I've seen some references to arch-strengthening exercises, but so far I haven't been able to find anything real specific.
Thanks in advance for whatever advice you might have. I should add, I'm still pretty new to running (barefoot or otherwise -- been doing it less than a year, and only a few times a week at most). I'm tall, 6'1", was significantly overweight when I took up running and am now pretty close to a healthy weight, and I have a history of back problems possibly related to bad gait / biomechanical issues.
Nathan
The last few times I've run (in VFFs as the surface I was running on was a little too rough to go totally barefoot, which is what I prefer), I have experienced some significant pain on the posterior and inner part of my knee, as well as some swelling at the upper edge of the kneecap. I seem to have a lot of stiffness and tightness in one thigh.
It has lasted a few days now, so I spoke to a friend of mine who's a very competent physical therapist (whose opinion I take seriously). She looked at my feet and was shocked at how turned-in my ankles are, as a result of having so much pronation as to have essentially flat feet. Her recommendation -- not surprisingly -- was to stop running barefoot and to wear something with arch support.
I'm wondering if anyone here has had success dealing with similar conditions without giving up on barefoot running? I've seen some references to arch-strengthening exercises, but so far I haven't been able to find anything real specific.
Thanks in advance for whatever advice you might have. I should add, I'm still pretty new to running (barefoot or otherwise -- been doing it less than a year, and only a few times a week at most). I'm tall, 6'1", was significantly overweight when I took up running and am now pretty close to a healthy weight, and I have a history of back problems possibly related to bad gait / biomechanical issues.
Nathan
