Is treadmill less strain on my knees/ankles than the road? AirMax or Shox better 4 protection? Another brand?

Question

My chiropractor discourages me from running but I really need to get back in shape. No surprise she suggests swimming which I do from time to time also. Yet I need an less-hassle daily workout to lose some pounds. I'm scoliotic and suffer from neck, shoulder, and back pains from time to time. So I want the most protection I can get for my joints when I run. What are the differences b/t treadmill and road and elliptical?

Answer 1

Elliptical is your best option.  If you have correct running mechanics, there is no real difference between treadmill and roadwork.  Obviously depending on the path for your roadwork can make some changes, but you can simulate a lot of the work on the treadmill.

Elliptical lessens the stress.  Biggest problem that I see with it is that it is not the optimal running form for your legs which may become more of a long term issue than just getting back into shape.

Shoes -- with proper form shoes become less of an issue.  Make sure they are light (no basketball shoes).  

Good luck!

Answer 2

i have alot of  experience with this.  i swam on the girls swim team every year, and last year when it ended i started running.  i loved running so much because it was faster and kept me in really good shape.  i ran about 5 miles aday on a tredmill and then decided i liked it so much i would quit lacross and do track.  little did i know, going from a tredmil to the pavement was terrible.  acutally running in general is terrible for you.  come april i ended up with a stress fracture and spent my entire summer on crutches in a boot.  then in the fall i couldn't run orrrr swim. i was soooooo mad! its been a year and a half and i still have problems, becuause when i got of crutches i started having foot problems and i've seen everydoctor in the world and no one can solve my problem.  your best bet is to bike!! swimm, do the eliptical. anythinggg! i am prewarning you, u don't want to be like me. i am misrable.  u can run like 4-5 days a week, but give your body a rest and bike and swim the other 2.  and when u run, run on grass!!!!! its the softest surface for you.  it will absorb the shock from the pounding of your feet.  tredmills are shock absorbers too...so are better than pavement as well. i know way too many ppl who get stress fractures from pavement, DONT BE ONE OF THEM!

Answer 3

from what I'm reading you should avoid running. try the elliptical, it's much fun and you'll get an overall workout!

good luck!

Answer 4

well to start off, dont run on a tredmill it is bad for your form, which could lead to problems down the road, i would suggest running on grass. and for shoes, go try to get fitted at a running for kicks, the human race, andy running store will help u out =)