Garmin Scales

Grumpy_chap

So, my last run was around mid-September really as I had some knee pain after that and eased off a lot to rest.  Annoying as my time had been getting better, but no point aiming for a fast run in the short term if I then can't run full stop.

This stretch of knee pain has been mild but it is near to 8 weeks now and still not right.  I'd like to be back to running from the  start of the New Year.  I've considered physiotherapy but not sure whether that would be just coincidence if I went and the knee got better as, presumably, resting through to Christmas will eventually work anyhow.

Does anyone know whether physio is any good?  There is an established Physiotherapy practice not far from me that I could try.

I did try to buy some fish oil as someone suggested that could be helpful, but my wife and I got thrown out from Holland & Barrett so that's not an option any longer.

YellowCarBlueCar

I've been running for about 4 years, and have been to a physio 3 times over that period for various injuries, and yes it has helped.  Not so much for the treatment (massage usually) in the actual physio sessions, but for the diagnosis of what is causing the issue, and the exercises (could be stretches or strength training) to be done between sessions.

Good luck with getting back to it.

Grumpy_chap

Here we are another month on.  The knee pain is still nagging so I am trying to rest it as much as I can.  That is 2 months, so I visited the Physio, but they (receptionist) weren't keen on making an appointment unless I'd been to the GP first.  I am not sure why that is, but have an appointment (over the phone) with the GP next week.

Needless to say, reduced cardio means weight creeping up.  Stable enough for resistance training though.

Grumpy_chap

Following the phone appointment with the GP, I had a proper "face-to-face" appointment today and I was advised the knee is fine, but the pain is originating from either ligament or quads which I will be referred to physio to determine, treat and advise exercises.  I am happy it's nothing actually "bad" and guess it will be next year before I see physio.

JustAnotherSaver

I have varying degrees of knee issues depending whether we're talking left or right. At its worst it can be crippling so I feel your pain when you talk about knee woes.

If you're being brutally honest with yourself, you'll know whether it's something that can be worked on or best left to heal. Never work on it if your head is telling you to let it heal.

Got in at a physio via our doctors online contact this month. Took about 2 week and had an immediate face-to-face. Got given exercises and away you go.

For the past 10 years though, whenever i've needed physio work i've paid to go private. 1) You build up a bit of a relationship seeing the 1 person all the time, they get to know you, it's more personal if you like that kind of thing and 2) I can't be bothered with the (usual) waiting so i pay up the £40-£50 (there's 2 that i'll see, depending how busy the other is and how bad i am).

The thing with the physio is .... surprise surprise .... they're not magicians. YOU need to do the work. Do it and you've a good chance of getting better. Do it here and there, once per week when they've told you 3 times per day and you may as well not bother.

Hope you get on the mend soon.

Grumpy_chap

Well, I've continued resting the knee and had some massages on the muscles around and about and there seems to be no more knee pain (it was good that the GP confirmed it is not actually a knee joint issue).  I've ordered a new pair of running trainers so will restart when they arrive - my aim is to reach 20 minute 5 k by the summer.  My previous PB is 21 mins 25 secs, so I think that getting back to where I was and that target should hopefully be achievable.

The lack of cardio and Christmas indulgence has conspired to an unwelcome weight increase but I still start 2022 at a lower weight than 2021 plus I am much fitter overall, resting heart rate is down and I have better physique with some muscle built but not as much as desired.

Grumpy_chap

WoooHooo!
First run of the year and a new PB!
  

YellowCarBlueCar

Great stuff! I'm a good minute behind you on the 5k, but tend to do 10ks and half marathons as a preference. 
Had a good year last year totalling something over 2500km, but did something to my foot in December (plantar fasciitis I think), so not a good start for me with about 6k done.
Improving slowly, but frustrating...

Chris_English

I’ve probably not got the best setup, and am pretty certain that some things are getting double counted (steps counted for calories, but some of them coming in the form of a run which is also counted, in full, for calories) because I use a variety of ways to populate my data, but I use A set of Withings scales which sync with the data on my phone, and with MyFitnessPal, which is the app that I use for weight and calories.

I use Garmin connect for everything else, sleep quality, amount of exercise, heart rate etc.

Grumpy_chap

Thanks @Chris_English - that is interesting that you say the Withings scales sync with MFP.  That is not something that I've been able to do with my Renpho scales.  I may try again as I think I was endeavouring to sync with Garmin Connect and then to MFP.

This has been a mixed month for health and fitness outcomes.  I have turned the corner from the excesses of Christmas and peak weight Dec 2021 well down on peak weight Dec 2022, which is a good thing.  Started the year with a PB on 5k, but since been rather sluggish and "events" getting in the way of some training sessions so I feel that now is the time to make the real focus on betterment.  Might be easier as the mornings start to get lighter and the gym less busy as all the "new year resolution" members start to find weakening resolve, though I thank them for their generosity in funding the gym.

I have three PT sessions remaining and thinking about whether to buy another pack.  I want to, but shocked that the price has gone up by 15-20%.  That is a massive rise and part of me wants to "boycott" in the hope that will drive the price downward.  Part of me thinks that will backfire as the result would be no pay rise for the staff who might then look elsewhere for employment...

I am thinking of purchasing a massage gun.  The market leader seems to be Theragun but they are rather expensive at close to £300.  I wonder whether the cheaper models would be just as good - Amazon seem to have the cheapest models from around £20, though simply buying cheap is often a false economy, I wonder whether the ranges from around £40 - £50 would be perfectly sufficient, for example:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Portable-Massager-Featuring-Technology-Percussion/dp/B083NBVP8Q/