Hi folk!
This problem's actually easing up somewhat but I thought it might be worth getting your input anyway.
I've been having a knee problem lately that slowed down both swimming and running. Both are picking back up again, and doing better right now w/ the swimming. But for one thing: some knee pain when pushing off walls and/or kicking--and mostly the first few kicks right after a turn. (Don't know if this is relevant, but I haven't been doing flip turns lately. Kind of lost the art and have decided to hold off on that and work on other skills for now.)
As noted, there's been some improvement: needed a pull buoy for most of my swim when the problem was at its worst; now I use it less and I've gone from ridiculously slow to my "normal slow." ("Fast" or even "fast for me" are goals now.)
Your thoughts? Thanks!
Parents
Former Member
This sounds like a problem that I had/still have. I've had knee problems since I was about 13 (thanks to my massive growth spurt). I first noticed it when I was running heavily with jr. high track and x-country and it eventually ended my swimming career in college. It was to the point where I could not go up and down stairs without severe pain. I was told by the team dr's in college that the only way to help my knees would be to "replace them now". I was 20 when they told me that. I am holding out as long as I can. They also told me to avoid bending my knees to 90 degrees or less, period. That was tough to follow.
I laid off swimming for about 4 years after that and I just started swimming again this past year. I am paying very close attention to my knees. I just started doing LIGHT weights with my legs (light for me is fairly heavy for most girls) but this is an improvement from college where I could not lift ANY weight with my legs. In practice, the minute my knee(s) hurts I will stop to stretch...stop doing breaststroke kick (that's what ususally triggers it)...or push LIGHTLY off of walls. I rely a lot on my legs, but the minute they begin to twinge I stop right away.
I found usually ice does not help me because it feels like it stiffens my legs. Icy Hot tends to help - I feel the heat helps the blood flow through my knee and sometimes this helps my range of motion. But for now, heat, tylonol, stretching and lots of water tends to help.
And yes, I plan on having my knees replaced at an insanely early age.
Reply
Former Member
This sounds like a problem that I had/still have. I've had knee problems since I was about 13 (thanks to my massive growth spurt). I first noticed it when I was running heavily with jr. high track and x-country and it eventually ended my swimming career in college. It was to the point where I could not go up and down stairs without severe pain. I was told by the team dr's in college that the only way to help my knees would be to "replace them now". I was 20 when they told me that. I am holding out as long as I can. They also told me to avoid bending my knees to 90 degrees or less, period. That was tough to follow.
I laid off swimming for about 4 years after that and I just started swimming again this past year. I am paying very close attention to my knees. I just started doing LIGHT weights with my legs (light for me is fairly heavy for most girls) but this is an improvement from college where I could not lift ANY weight with my legs. In practice, the minute my knee(s) hurts I will stop to stretch...stop doing breaststroke kick (that's what ususally triggers it)...or push LIGHTLY off of walls. I rely a lot on my legs, but the minute they begin to twinge I stop right away.
I found usually ice does not help me because it feels like it stiffens my legs. Icy Hot tends to help - I feel the heat helps the blood flow through my knee and sometimes this helps my range of motion. But for now, heat, tylonol, stretching and lots of water tends to help.
And yes, I plan on having my knees replaced at an insanely early age.
