Achy joints from carpet?

[bostonwendy]

Hi everyone,

I have been working out with Cathe for about 6 months now and am starting to experience achiness in my knees and sometimes ankles after step workouts. I was doing low impact 2-4 times a week (mixed with kickboxing on other days) but it is much less recently as I am achy for days after a step workout. Could this be from the wall-to-wall carpeting in my apartment? I am very careful not to do any pivoty moves but can't think of what else could be causing this. And any suggestions for floor coverings that would work on carpet? I've read some people use foam puzzle mats but anyone using them on top of carpet?

Wendy

 

[fit_fairy]

Hi Wendy,
I start aching in my hips, knees and ankles when I need new shoes. Just a thought, may not be your problem.

Catherine

http://bestsmileys.com/exercising/1.gif

 

[bostonwendy]

Hmmm... sneakers are a good thought since I have been using the same pair for over a year now! I have read that a lot of folks here use ryka enlights or instrutors but the price scared me off. How often should I be replacing? I guess my thought is, if I need a new pair every few months anyway, I might want something a little less expensive. Are they really worth it, or any other good, les pricy aerobics/step shoes you know of? I still worry about being on carpet and wonder whether certain types of soles would be better than others.

Thanks,
Wendy

 

[kathryn]

It might be a case of doing too much too soon. How often do you do step? If I do step workouts on consecutive days, my joints tell me it's not a good idea. Some people can only do step once a week without problems. Make sure you don't step on consecutive days, and limit your stepping to whatever works for you (1-4 days a week, but build up from once or twice a week). It may just take a while for your body to adjust (you can also ice your knees for about 20 minutes after each step workout, to reduce inflammation that can lead to pain). Lowering your step height, and building up to the heigher step heignt as your body adapts, is also an idea.


As for any relationship between the carpet and achiness: I think that what the carpet is covering (cement? Carpet isn't enough to cushion the impact. Wood? Then it should be okay). There are quite a few pivoty moves in some of Cathe's workouts, and moves that call for a quick change in direction (some moves that have you on the side of the step, then moving to the back --your side--of the step), and most carpet is bad for pivoting and can 'catch' and cause torque to the knee. Since you're avoiding pivoty moves (but watch for those directional changes as well), this is probably not the problem.

I use puzzle mats (over wood) and they have definitely allowed me to do more impact with less discomfort. I'm not sure how they work (as far as staying in place) over carpet, but they are worth a try, IMO).

 

[kathryn]

>Hmmm... sneakers are a good thought since I have been using
>the same pair for over a year now!

How long shoes will last depends on how they are used, but most recommendations I've seen say to replace them about every 6 months. The higher impact the activity, the more often the shoes need replaciing (don't toss them out, though: use them for low impact activity or turn them into every-day shoes. Or donate them to Goodwill or the Salvation Army if they are still wearable by others.).

I think also that shoes can have a longer life (last through more total wearings) if you don't wear them everyday. When I buy shoes, I always buy two pairs and alternate days wearing them.

 

[bostonwendy]

Kathryn, thanks for the replies. I was regularly doing step 2-4 times per week until about a month ago and I was at 6" after about 10 weeks with just the platform. Just recently I am noticing my joints achy. It definitely sounds like a good idea to try new sneakers, and I will be careful about the directional changes along with pivots (which I avoid altogether). I highly doubt theres wood underneath my wall-to-wall carpet as this is a pretty new apartment building and they would have just left the wood exposed to get better rents! So, must be concrete. I am afraid that puzzle mats would just slip around on the carpet and am hoping someone on this forum has some experience with this before I purchase!

Thanks so much,
Wendy

 

[red_mct]

I have this issue, too, if I do too much step, if I try to go too high (8 inches instead of 6), or if my sneakers are crying out for replacement. I've read that workout sneakers should actually be replaced every 3-4 months, and you should be careful not to be using them for other (i.e., outdoor) activities. It seems like a big investment, but your joints will thank you!

Marie

 

[kathryn]

Another idea: most (if not all) workout shoes have removable insoles, that you can replace with a more padded insole.