Knees

lilmanLax · 06-Oct-03, 11:58 AM

I recently went to the doctor because my knees keep hurting randomly. He told me that i have so condition where the cartilage in my knee is wearing down and my knee cap actualy rubs on my femur bone and this causes the pain he told me to fix this i need to build up my quads (yes i have chicken legs) but he said do not do exercises that bend my knees like squats or leg curls or leg press. . . i have no clue what to do anyone know any exercises that might work?!!!

Lee J B · 06-Oct-03, 01:41 PM

Might want to look into glucosamine / chondriotin ... good stuff. Try biking until you feel a bit stronger leg wise - it's easier on the joints.

BigSilly · 06-Oct-03, 02:16 PM

Wow, i was just going to start a thread on the same topic...

I have been using a squat machine where you basically lay down and push the weight back with your legs with pads sitting on your shoulders. I tried doing a squat machine where its the same idea as the other machine i mentioned, except you stand on the floor and push straight up. I did it ONCE and it felt like my knees were going to explode!

If you want to go against the docs advice, try the squat machine where you lay down - it hardly hurts my knees at all.

Is there something we could maybe wrap around our knees to help out? I really want to do squats, but the pain was unbearable.

Timbers · 06-Oct-03, 02:22 PM

Yes, the squat machine may be better for you. Give it a try.
How about swimming laps?

CJNY · 06-Oct-03, 07:01 PM

It sounds like you are describing chondromalacia patella. Here's what I have found helps.

1) Bicycling, done the right way, results in improvement for me. It's actually theraputic. Done the wrong way it makes the condition worse. The right way is to pedal at 90 or more RPM with relatively light loads. Heavy resistance that causes you to drop below 90 revolutions per minute is the worst.

2) After any exercise that tends to aggravate the problem try direct ice massage around the circumference of the kneecap. If you freeze water in a foam cup you can peel the cup back until the ice is exposed and apply the ice directly to the knee cap, using the cup to hold onto. Ice for several minutes, let your knee warm up and repeat. Repeat again. This works way better than any ice bag.

3. Strengthening the quads does help but it can be difficult to find an exercise that doesn't aggravate the problem. Leg extensions are the worst for me. I never do them. Full squats can be a problem but are better than extensions. Some people swear by partial squats (not as far down as parallel). The best for me is sumo style deadlifts.

4. Flexibility is very imortant. Stretch your quads. A lot.

5. Orthotic arch supports can help if some repetitive activity like running aggravates the problem. Try to find a sports-minded podiatrist or pedorthist.

A multi-faceted plan of attack like this can make all the difference in the world. Good luck!

2Scoops · 07-Oct-03, 09:42 AM

I agree with CJNY in suspecting CP. Try isometric exercises for your quads to strengthen them without bending the knee. Also, straight leg raises and other hip exercises may be useful.

Cycling/swimming if possible too.

TsiTalon · 09-Oct-03, 10:53 PM

are you guys talking about the Hack squats ?? If i remember correctly their not good for the knee. Squats are fine but you need to do them the right way.

CJNY · 10-Oct-03, 08:03 AM

If you have a knee problem then squats might not be fine.

I forgot to mention that in contrast to general strengthening of the quads, the real goal is to strengthen the vastus medialis. This is thought to help the kneecap to track in a better line as the knee moves under load, minimizing the rubbing mentioned in the first post.

Here's a good link on Chondromalacia (also called patello-femoral syndrome these days):
http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cy.../indexcmp.html

TsiTalon · 10-Oct-03, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CJNY

If you have a knee problem then squats might not be fine.

I forgot to mention that in contrast to general strengthening of the quads, the real goal is to strengthen the vastus medialis. This is thought to help the kneecap to track in a better line as the knee moves under load, minimizing the rubbing mentioned in the first post.

Here's a good link on Chondromalacia (also called patello-femoral syndrome these days):
http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cy.../indexcmp.html

thats what i was going to say .

lilmanLax · 22-Oct-03, 06:17 PM

Well i know its been quite some time since i posted on this thread but today i went to an orthopedic doctor and had my knees looked at he decided it was ve patello-femoral stress syndrome know i have to go to physical therapy 2-3 times a week for three weeks

CJNY · 23-Oct-03, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilmanLax

Well i know its been quite some time since i posted on this thread but today i went to an orthopedic doctor and had my knees looked at he decided it was ve patello-femoral stress syndrome know i have to go to physical therapy 2-3 times a week for three weeks

That's the condition I was referring to. Damn these orthopedic guys - they keep changing the names.

Don't be sad (unless you are paying for the therapist out of your pocket). This way you get professional assistance with your training - exactly what you need!

Bushi · 22-Nov-03, 07:58 AM

I don't have any knee problem yet but I love my squats and I want to maintain healthy knees. I tried running as cardio the other day and other than realizing that this is the first time I run in 6 years I noticed my left knee hurting a bit so I didn't run again. Besides avoiding pain what else goes in the way of general knee maintenance?

bouncer · 30-Nov-03, 06:34 PM

lilmanLax

I have this same problem. I had two knee surgeries on the same knee where they had to remove put of my medial meniscus. After the surgery, jogging on a hard surface caused me a lot of pain and swelling. My Doc stated that I should do modified leg extensions. Instead of going for a lot of reps you should lift your legs until they are fully extended and hold it extended for as long as possible. And then you repeat. Instead of aggravating your knee with 15 - 20 reps, you should only be able to do about 5 reps the modified way.

My knee problem was also the catalyst that caused me to design the Champion Rebounding program. About two weeks ago I landed hard on my knee and had to go to my Doc. My Doc x-rayed my knee and said that there is know damage, except the fact that my knee was practically rubbing bone on bone. He then asked me if I was feeling any pain prior to this accident. When I told him no, he was surprise. He said I should be feeling pain. When he asked me what I was doing, I said rebound exercise and taking a nutritional supplement called,
"flex caps." Flex caps has glucosamine in it. I don't think all glucosamines are the same because the flex caps worked when the other two glucosamine products didn't. Check out www.mynutrition.biz

RichUK · 04-Dec-03, 08:06 AM

I'm another poor soul with the same problem!

Firstly, with the knee being as complex-a-joint as it is, everyone will probably be referring to different things when they say 'knee pain'. I'd listen to this orthopedic doctor you've gone to see and see what he/she comes up with.

Some people say that they can't run or do leg extensions, but squats are fine. Speaking personally, I can't do leg extensions or squats but I can run OK! I even hired a personal trainer to look at my form on leg exercises - he said my squat form was nigh-on perfect, and yet even with the bar plus about 50lb my knees were in agony.

What I tend to do these days is lots of running/cycling/swimming, and just do the leg weights that I can manage. I can do extensions with pausing at the top (as someone has suggested), stiff-legged deadlifts and calf work. That's about it for leg weights, if I try anything else my knees ache for days afterwards.