So you only run trail now? Wouldn’t some road running shoes with cusioning help?
Contrary to popular belief, more cushioning from shoes leads to higher loading in the knees
It’s likely a culmination of a few different factors. It seems like with softer shoes , you hit the ground harder. A bunch of studies have shown that same effect. One group even did it with load cells implanted directly in people’s knees and showed that the knee force is higher. Depending the shoe, some are even designed the change your running form, and that could increase your knee loads, too. Lots of shoes out there these days that make it feel like you’re wearing sketchers shape-ups.
I have really chunky running shoes that do help but it just isn’t worth the pain. I can pretty much only run on grass or treadmills now so I prefer to do a lot of walking/hiking instead. I am approaching 40 as well so have to be a bit more careful in general too.
I’m in my mid fifties. I run mostly in Vibram FiveFingers and occasionally (like today) barefoot. I’m just weird that way.
