Knee Problems...

[BEEF]

Hi guys,

I haven't posted on here in ages! I had an email the other day reminding me to so I thought i'd come back over.

I've got a problem that you might be able to help me with. My left knee has been giving me A LOT of problems recently. It just hurts all the time and is really harming my workouts. There is a lot of pain coming from the centre of my knee. Its hard to explain but what I can feel on my knees is two sections, a top and a bottom section. The pain is coming from the bottom of the top section.

It even hurts when I'm walking.

Can anyone recommend what I can do or anything that good for knees? Also can anyone give me any tips on squat form because I think this is what has caused this. If squats are always going to be a little dodgy for my knees, in your opinions would a hack squat and leg press machine be a better option?

Cheers!

[Bad Bob]

I have pretty good luck with front squats.
I have one knee that I have some discomfort with from time to time.
Full squats really bring my level of discomfort up if I do them
regularly. . . so you should give them a try!

[Jack Tragic]

Hi guys,

I haven't posted on here in ages! I had an email the other day reminding me to so I thought i'd come back over. I've got a problem that you might be able to help me with. My left knee has been giving me A LOT of problems recently. It just hurts all the time and is really harming my workouts. There is a lot of pain coming from the centre of my knee. Its hard to explain but what I can feel on my knees is two sections, a top and a bottom section. The pain is coming from the bottom of the top section.It even hurts when I'm walking. Can anyone recommend what I can do or anything that good for knees? Also can anyone give me any tips on squat form because I think this is what has caused this. If squats are always going to be a little dodgy for my knees, in your opinions would a hack squat and leg press machine be a better option?
Cheers!

How long in this pain? Post your "leg" routien.

[BEEF]

It's been hurting for about 3 weeks now. I've had it lightly strapped today & I've had no pain what so ever. Could this point to a tendon problem perhaps?

My leg routine is simple at the moment:

5 sets of squats, 3 sets of front squats, 4 sets of ham curls and 4 sets of SLDL

[muscle_n_blood]

There are a lot of different degrees and textures to knee pain. Does it just hurt, or does it actually feel unstable? Does it actually hurt less wrapped or just feel safer?

[BEEF]

It doesn't feel unstable, and it hurts less when wrapped, it feels a lot better this way.

[p.s.]

Sounds like tendonitis to me. Try giving it a week or two off from training, and use NSAID and ice to keep the inflamation down. See how this works for ya.

[BEEF]

Thanks for the replies guys. I've kept the knee wrapped for the last week and its feeling a lot better. Is tendonitis likely to keep coming back?

[muscle_n_blood]

that varies from individual to individual and injury to injury. I've had patellar tendonitis symptoms once. I laid off leg training for 3 weeks and never had another problem, been about 15 years. On the other hand, I had recurring flexor tendonitis in my elbows off and on throughout my 20's, but again, no problems there in many years either.

[Jack Tragic]

Thanks for the replies guys. I've kept the knee wrapped for the last week and its feeling a lot better. Is tendonitis likely to keep coming back?

Yes. Heavy training will produce tendonitis time and again. Best bet is to cycle heavy/light cycles into 4 week or so intervals to give your joints and tendons a break and chance to recover.   J.

[p.s.]

I agree with JT as well constant heavy lifting will generally cause my tendons and joints to get very very sore, so adding in lighter workouts helps tons. Oh and by lighter workouts no one said that these can't be intense, as an example I can legpress 1200 LBs or more (depending on the legpress) for reps but doing this constantly kills my knees so I have other ways to make legpress a lot harder using much lighter weights. As an example I will do 2 plates aside for 20 reps/3 plates aside for 30 reps/4 plates for 40 reps/5 plates for 50 reps/ and finally 6 plates for 60 reps. After this I'll then do my squatting etc so that I can't use a really heavy weight, but the squat weight I work up to still feels like a ton.

Do ya get the idea? Just 'cause JT, MnB or I say use lighter weights does not mean slacking off in any way shape or form.

[BEEF]

For sure, I get what you mean. I really want to get myself a leg press machine.

Thanks for all the advice guys, the knee is now much better and hasn't given me any problems since!

[Vega]

I've got bad knees from when I was in my youth and my knees would pop out from kneeling on them wrong. They'd basically slip out which hurt a lot and I had to lay on my side to slowly extend my leg back out so they'd pop back in. Usually when I'm biking or swimming they'll start to hurt. Rather than taping them, you might want to get a compression knee brace (the ones made from neoprene). This will alleviate the pain like the wrap and are easier to put on. Have you tried resting your knees for a few days to see if they get better? A lot of times I try to switch up my routines when I have an injury so I'm not irritating the injury and allow it to heal itself.