Vitamin supplements and running

[pageturner]

I started running last summer and am really enjoying it, but am concerned that I need to protect my joints from the impact. It's been suggested that I take Glucosamine with Chondroitin and/or cod liver oil tabs.

Are these the best thing? Or is there anything else?

I think good shoes, and running on soft surfaces (oh, and losing weight, if you're big) are the best things you can do.

Thanks, NQC. Well, my shoes are good and I run along country lanes, and I've lost 2 stone (another half to go), but I'm worried that sometimes my knees feel a bit creaky. it could all be in my head, but I don't want to be crippled with arthritis in 20 years and someone say, 'Oh well, if you'd been taking X all this time you'd be fine!'.

I'm hitting 40 in about 6 weeks, which may have something to do with it!

Any other thoughts?

A few other ideas:

1. Talk to a physio, they will give you exercises that will help.
2. Make sure your shoes are fitted properly for you (e.g. the fitter either saw you run, or peered at your old running shoes - this makes a big difference)
3. Use a wobble board - very good for strengthening all the little muscles around your knees.
4. Ask on the runner's thread (I'm sure there's one!) about supplements.

I dont know about supplements but I do know that for women who run, pain in the knees can be a problem. To enable us to have children naturally we have a wider pelvis than men which means that whereas men go straight down through the knee to the foot women don't. Our knees are mostly inside that straight invisible line. This means that when we run (or walk for that matter) our knee joint is not directly underneath all the weight and this can put pressure on the knee. Does that make sense? I dont think i've desribed it very well. I'llk see if I can find a link to a diagram.

I can't get the diagram to copy but this is definitely a better desription though.......

The "Q" angle
The "Q" angle is the angle between the line of pull of the quadriceps muscles on the knee and the line of pull of the patellar tendon.

The "Q" angle is greater in women as the hips are set wider apart.

A large "Q" angle may cause the kneecap to deviate from its normal pathway on the end of the thigh bone. This may result in a dislocation of the kneecap if, whilst bending it, an external force pushes the knee inwards.

This is all very interesting, thank you! I don't have pain, just slight stiffness sometimes. I AM a bit paranoid about my age though, and just want to fend off any problems.

NQC - good advice about shoes, thanks.

Mckenzie - very interesting about our joints, does that mean I shouldn't run?! I'm not looking for a get-out clause really. though should beware if I do get pain, I guess.