My knee does not like squats!

[SRP]

What am I going to do? I've made a committment to switch over to Cathe's weight training for my legs and I really want to do it! I haven't purchased any of the tapes yet, but I've been working to increase the number of squats, walking lunges, etc. in preparation. I'm trying to be gradual about it, but the old running knee is misbehaving again.

It's a general, consistent ache, but so far it is not actually debilitating. Mostly on the inside - possibly a strained ligament? But I also feel some pain on the top of the knee.

I recently increased the squats, had to back off, and then did it more gradually with better results. This last time, I decided to add the walking lunges, and I think that's actually where the problem came in. Just 50 though, without weights.

Any suggestions to solve this problem (excluding drugs!) will be greatly welcome! Thanks.

 

[Boybert]

Hi Shannon My first thought is to give your poor knee a break! Maybe just lay off too heavy on the leg exercises for a little bit. Maybe some heat therapy. Try more endurance things, like the segments in L&G or the leg conditioning drills in Kickmax. I would just ease back up & try not to go overkill when working your legs. If you do killer squats, etc from Cathe's workout, just don't add anything additional on your own. I think if you're careful you should be okay. If you are STILL in pain after all of this I might suggest getting it checked out.

"you miss 100% of the shots you never take"

Debbie

 

[toastythemosty]

Shannon,

I get the same problem and it lingers for awhile. It is usually when I go heavy with squats that my knee will ache badly and I can't bend sometimes at all for a few minutes. I get a ache right at the top of the knee and when I cross my legs, etc., I feel it more. Just be careful.

Charlotte~~

 

[andtckrtoo]

Make sure you are using proper form. I know this is really basic, but I've found that when I add weights to my squats, I have to be hyper vigilent on my form - I have a tendancy to not sit back far enough with my butt, and allow my knees to go further than my toes. When I do this, my knees ache. When I make sure I get my butt way back I work my glutes more and my knees are fine. Just a thought.

I have issues with lunges too - I found that I need to put more emphasis on the front leg and less on the back, and not go down as far.

 

[workoutqueen]

Hi Shannon,

I know how you feel. It sounds like you have the same problem as I do. I have "chondromalacia" or commonly known as "runner's knee" . I believe a group of symptoms in this category is referred to Patellar Pain Syndrome or "PPS". I had physical therapy for one knee and it progressed to the other. (I do a lot of running & jogging). Anyway, I recently went to see a sports doctor. While he didn't suggest I give up running, he suggested I stay away from squats and showed me several exercises to do. I highly recommend the following books. All can be found on Amazon, or I'm sure at your local library:

1.) "The Knee Crisis Handbook" by Brian Halpern c2003. He is a doctor and its got some great knee exercises in it. I've been doing these for about a month now. The routine takes me at least 30 minutes, but my knees are definitely much better now. I try to do them at least twice a week.

2.) "Treat Your Knees" by Jim Johnson c2003. Bought this last year and also found it useful. He is a physical therapist.

3.) "Running Injuries: How to Prevent and Overcome Them" c2003, 2nd edition. I just bought this two weeks ago. This is a great book if you happen to run but does a good job at explaining knee injuries and the use of proper footwear. It also gives good exercises.

You can actually go to Amazon and search inside books #1 & #3 to get an idea. I think you will find them helpful as I did.

As for squats in your workouts, when I do MuscleMax, I just don't add weights for the lunging and squating parts. Prior to this I was using 30 & 40 pds and I think that's what contributed to the pain in my left knee. As of today, my knees feel pretty good. It's a condition that one must manage and try to prevent re-injury by paying attention to form and doing preventive exercises.

Anyway, I hope this helps. Good luck

Katrina

 

[SRP]

Hi, ladies -
Thanks so much for the info and advice. The irritating thing is, I haven't actually run in about 4 years! I quit because of the problem, and just when I think it's completely done with bothering me, it kicks in again. Oh well. I'll manage my way around it!

Christine - thanks for the tip on form. Hopefully when I do get my Cathe videos, that will improve things. Right now, I do what feels right, but I'll be the first to admit it may not actually be right!

Katrina - yes, that "runner's knee" thing sounds like me. I've seen the description before when I was looking up info on knees, when the injury first happened. And thanks a bunch for the books! I'll see what I can find out my way.

 

[Kit_]

Shannon,

Also you maybe doing the squats/lunnges wrong, keep the primary weight in the back of the heels, not the balls of the feet. This when you go down doesn't strain the knees as much.

Also do see your doctor, as this can easily turn into other things, that will be very painful. A popped knee cap, pulled tendons, etc.

Also a knee brace maybe in order for a while until your knees toughen up. Which will allow you to do the exercises without causing damage or pain to the knees. But have a doctor approve this, as braces are good and bad, good as they help bad as they help too much if not monitored and worn properely. Which is why I always tell people to always get doctors approval as they usually get sent home with exercises to do without the brace too.

Hope this helps,

Kit

 

[Timber99]

Ice & Rest for a few days...a little bit of anti-inflammatory OTC medicine would not hurt too bad either. After a flare up, I ice after every work out for about two or three weeks. It does not have to be directly after the workout and is even better if you can do it three times per day). It forces you to sit down for a few minutes in the day &

After that rest, focus on leg floor work for a little bit to build strength in those muscles. Get started back with no weight on your squats when you are comfortable but really watch that form.

If you have consistent pain and you cannot get it to go away, go to your doctor. You don't want to make a simple problem worse.

Good Luck
Christine