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Knees and shins are aching... help with shoes please!

mrslcoop
mrslcoop Posts: 317 Member
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I’m currently in month 1 week 3 of insanity and I love it, but I feel like I’m having issues with my shoes. My shins and knees ache a little to a lot after most of the work outs (I used to run 4x a week and never had knee and shin issues before). With the holidays coming up I don’t have money to spend on a new pair of cross trainers (and I’m getting a new pair of running shoes for Cmas to help with my half marathon training starting after insanity and I know running shoes are awful for doing this program) so I’m wondering if anyone did insanity without shoes? And if so, did it help?

Replies

  • sarrah_n
    sarrah_n Posts: 192 Member
    I had the same problem! It has improved quite a lot as my muscle tone has improved. Are you working out in your unning shoes? I found that my feet shifted slighly in my shoes, particularly on the side-to-sie moves. This was quite painful. If this is the case, try switching to a cross trainer show instead of a running shoe.
  • littlemissmetal84
    littlemissmetal84 Posts: 24
    I had a lot of problems with my knees with this program, so my partner brought me knee supports and that has helped alot... apart from with the stretches i carnt wear them for them resicts my movement.

    i just brought myself a pair of nike air's and feel great when i do this program.
  • jcdoerr
    jcdoerr Posts: 172 Member
    I actually completed quite a bit of the program in my bare feet after my knees started to hurt. It definitely helped, I'm not exactly sure why, might have something to do with having to focus on landing correctly/more softly when doing all the jumping moves. The bottoms of my feet were a little sore the first couple of times but that went away pretty quickly. Oh, and I also did all the workouts on carpet. Toward the end of the program I got a pair of trainers with a low to negative heel, and those worked pretty well too. Basically anything besides a standard running shoe works the best...my opinion plus what I've read from lots of others.
  • mrslcoop
    mrslcoop Posts: 317 Member
    I currently am using my running shoes and the cross trainers I do have are extremely old. Like I said I can’t afford a new pair at the moment.
    I actually completed quite a bit of the program in my bare feet after my knees started to hurt. It definitely helped, I'm not exactly sure why, might have something to do with having to focus on landing correctly/more softly when doing all the jumping moves. The bottoms of my feet were a little sore the first couple of times but that went away pretty quickly. Oh, and I also did all the workouts on carpet. Toward the end of the program I got a pair of trainers with a low to negative heel, and those worked pretty well too. Basically anything besides a standard running shoe works the best...my opinion plus what I've read from lots of others.

    Good to hear that you were able to do the program barefoot. I too do it on carpet. I might try a couple of sessions with my old cross trainers and a couple bare foot to see what I like better. But it sounds like I definitely need to get out of my running shoes ASAP. Thanks for the advice everyone!
  • lts42uk
    lts42uk Posts: 162 Member
    I'm on week 4 of Insanity and haven't worn shoes at all! I have had no issues - I do it on laminate floor!
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Shaun T himself says not to do insanity in running shoes, go bare foot or wear cross trainers
  • ilessa
    ilessa Posts: 61 Member
    After the first week of insanity and being in immense pain, I switched to barefoot and found it much easier (on carpet ofc) I wasn't having the sliding feet, I felt much more in control and got more out of my workout.

    Give it a try, I suggest you try for at least a week to get used to it - I found that I worked my calves a lot more so be prepared for some aches but as always if you feel pain rather than aches then it may not be the best thing for you :)
  • mrslcoop
    mrslcoop Posts: 317 Member
    After the first week of insanity and being in immense pain, I switched to barefoot and found it much easier (on carpet ofc) I wasn't having the sliding feet, I felt much more in control and got more out of my workout.

    Give it a try, I suggest you try for at least a week to get used to it - I found that I worked my calves a lot more so be prepared for some aches but as always if you feel pain rather than aches then it may not be the best thing for you :)

    I did it barefoot yesterday for the first time and holy s do my calves hurt today. Going barefoot made a huge difference in my knees and shins and I could definitely tell I was working my lower body harder.

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