suddenly cannot run on a treadmill

Is it plugged in?

theJeff wrote:

Is it plugged in?

0/10, total a$$hole reply to a serious question.

I have treadmill issues rather similar to what you describe, except that I have had this problem all my life. I'm now 60 but even in my 30s I had terrible trouble with treadmills. I can run on a treadmill but it requires absolutely all my focus and attention to not run off the tread to one side or another or off the back, or smash my hands into the front console or side rails. It is so mentally difficult that I can't keep it up for long. Your phrase "I am not very coordinated and my stride is all over the place" really resonates with me.

Three years ago I went to an orthopedist about a badly inflamed Achilles tendon. He wasn't too interested in my Achilles, but immediately started giving me all sorts of balance tests, all of which I failed miserably. He told me that I should be using a cane to walk and recommended that I see a neurologist about my balance issues. I listened politely, then went away laughing. I run outdoors almost every day, mostly in the pre-dawn darkness, usually 60-70 mpw when uninjured, and I haven't fallen in about six years. But clumsy I am, and it really shows up on the treadmill where you have to put your feet in a well-defined place.

That being said, I have no idea what to do about this. I'm just letting you know that you are not alone in having this problem.

Not funny wrote:

theJeff wrote:

Is it plugged in?

0/10, total a$$hole reply to a serious question.

Not to mention racist and homophobic.

Not funny wrote:

theJeff wrote:

Is it plugged in?

0/10, total a$$hole reply to a serious question.

Which is precisely what makes it funny. Grow a pair, you pantywaist.

I know this guy wrote:

Not funny wrote:

0/10, total a$$hole reply to a serious question.

Not to mention racist and homophobic.

*sighs*

Ideas to try:

Get video of yourself running outside. You might have asymmetry that makes the treadmill hard. You might be able to fix it if you are aware of it, by strengthening and focusing on it.

Another idea: use a Tm where you can have a mirror, maybe that can help you have better form

Last idea: I am old man in 3:15 marathon shape but can “run” very slowly with some benefit- what if you try to take your 4.7 walk and gradually increase 0.1 mph - maybe you can slowly transition into your 5.7 or whatever running pace- in one session or over several.

Just keep moving.

...but if you were able to run on the treadmill before and now you are having coordination issues including falls, this may be something that needs looking into.

people can have new coordination issues for any number of reasons. Just from the top of my head it could be new muscle weakness (think myopathy/myositis) or weakness from a central neurological lesion (spinal cord, brainstem, brain, etc). Sometimes sensory problems can present as gait difficulty (think neuropathy, especially if proprioception is involved). Finally, the obvious concerning thing is true in-coordination such as ataxia from a cerebellar problem.

Hopefully its none of the above, maybe just a case of the yips. But if this a new problem, and its bad enough it has caused falls, I would consider talking with your doctor just to make sure everything is hunky-dory.

If I am running a slower pace, I drag the front of a shoe on the treadmill every so often. I have to concentrate to make sure I don't do it. At faster paces it isn't a problem as you are pushing off more and taking larger strides.

Ok I get it that I may need to see a doctor but in my case I have dealt with balance issues even running outside. The term some call Loss of Coordination Running. I actually can get this running outside and have to stop and walk for bit then I can go back running sometimes I take off pretty quick. It is almost like having dystonia but not the same thing.

I do think the only thing that might be usefully would be an EMG to check reflexes. One other thing is I do have foraminal stenosis in my lower back. This is where the nerve roots come out of the spinal chord not central canal spinal stenosis. I had an MRI 6 years ago and show the bulging disk, and degeneration but frankly I have no pain at all. In fact I had a another doctor look at the MRI and said back then it was not a career ending issue it all has to do with pain and symptoms. The question I guess I have is could this be cause my balance/uncoordinated issue? If so then frankly there is nothing I am going to do about it because I am not in pain at all. Surgery on the back is something to avoid at all cost.

I have religiously tried all sorts of core muscle building and stretching and nothings seems to make a different. I just know when you go to the doctor a tell them you run about 1500 a year and ride a bike 3000, they just say laugh and tell you to take it easy. I do know that about 6 weeks ago inside 200 meter track I ran 6 sub 10 min miles. That is not a great feat but for me it is good considering my problems with coordination. Finally it could very well be that I reached my limit my log book now shows 81,000 lifetime miles at least recorded since 1985. At my best I did the marathon in 3:06 and a 38:06 10K.

I feel like normally I should be able to train around 10 min miles and get at least to 9 minute pace for a bit, but just cannot get legs squared away. It really has nothing to do with fitness as my resting heart rate is 40 and I can probably on a good day ride 100 miles on a bike solo in 5:15. I sure I could do a 5 hour century in a group ride on fair course but wow running has taken a beating.

This is the wrong setting to try to figure out if it is a medical/neurologic issue. Hopefully some of the other runners on here can give you good advice if its conditioning or technique related. The video thing was a good idea for sure.

I think the only thing I would say is that if the balance issues are new, or getting worse then that might be a point of concern. If these seems just like an extension of issues that are long standing then there is probably nothing to worry about. That being said, I feel that in general if you are having new symptoms that are bad enough to cause falls then a doctor shouldn't just write you off. Losing the ability to do something you previously could without a great explanation should be a red flag to a good doc.

One example of a neurologic condition that could present as you describe is sensory ataxia. It can be caused my a myriad of things, but in general it results in a loss of proprioception (usually in the feet/ankles, though this varies depending on the cause). prioprioception is basically knowing where your joints are in space. there would not have to be any pain or weakness but the first sign is often stumbling or balance difficulties. In early stages it would be very subtle. It would easily be masked on a bike where your feet are on the pedals (often clipped in) so the proprioceptive input would be bypassed. I am in no way saying this is what you have, or even that its particularly likely. I just mention it as an example. An EMG/NCS would diagnosis this if is was a peripheral nerve issue (such as a large-fiber polyneuropathy), but miss is if it was a spinal cord lesion causing the sensation deficit. The most sensitive test would probably be a competent neurologic physical exam.

Sorry for the rambling. I guess my point is that if the coordination issues are not new, then probably no worries. But if you are now having balance issues while running that are new or progressively worsening, that sounds like a red flag to me.

This is the wild part. I can easily smoothly pedal a bike standing up and be in complete rhythm. I can go from standing to sitting while I pedal and not drop a stroke. On the ataxia bit I get that and have check that out you could be correct but it would very early stages as I can stand with my eyes closed for as long as I need. I do know I have always had a very weak knee jerk reflex and sometimes the doctor cannot get a knee jerk response. About 25 years ago I had a complete evaluation by a doctor of physical medication and he said my reflex was ok and I simply was not a "jumpy" person since the knee jerk was hard to elicit.

The direct balance issues related to running are not new have had them going back over 10 years ago. The real surprise was for the first time I just cannot get into a rhythm to run on a treadmill. The point I feel the gait is in "no man's land" is when I pick up my leg and try to really plant an push forward. Sometimes it just seems I am unable to get on top of my stride. I know it is crazy but I cannot think my way into the proper motion. Sometimes I wonder if cycling may have ruined my brains response to what is going on with my legs.