Breaststroker's knee warm up exercises

This is my pre-*** stroke routine. youtube.com/watch Why Dave, you shaved and tapered for that too?

Wow, I can't believe I'm going to give advice to a breaststroker, but I got one so here I go. Hopefully, Allen (who suffers from this dreadful diagnosis) will come along and fill the gaps and give better tips. It could be technique related. (Sorry :eek: ) I can't remember exactly what your kick looked like from your video. I seem to recall pretty wide with a flatter stroke? If you are doing mostly wide kicks with the quads, that could strain that collateral ligament on the inside of your knee that is supposed to stabilize the knee. You really want to use your hips more in the kick and get some hip action going. Exercises: quad sets, straight leg raises, adductor sets, prone leg raises. You could be doing too much breaststroke in practice? Keep at the front crawl and bugfly to vary it up and avoid overusing the knee. Although I note that you can actually get breaststroker's knee from doing other strokes. Don't do any more tiling if you're on your knees. There is a condition called "carpet layer's knee" too. Since you don't like dolphin kicking with breaststroke, you might try a pull buoy. I have also heard that varying your breaststroke kick helps. In other words, doing it wide, medium, narrow on different days to avoid overstraining the ligament. Also, I know a breaststroker who is going to get prolotherapy for his knee. See, e.g., www.caringmedical.com/.../prolotherapy.asp I'm sure there are other sites that explain it too. Ice, ice, ice every 3-4 hours if you can. Long warm ups! Hang in there, SS.

It's just a blip. I'm hoping the remedial stuff won't be needed or this will be a short USMS career, and I'll stick to lapping. I'm not here for what I can do but for what I can do without overly risking injury. Well, that's what I initially thought too. But I've pretty much had "swimmer's shoulder" since I first hopped back in the pool without thinking about the ole RCs. (There's even a diagnosis called "butterfly back" ...) Once you're back in though, it's hard to get back out. So then you take risks you perhaps shouldn't. It's good to be cautious and realistic though and realize that it's a long and winding road. It took me awhile to get that. I was always very focused on the next meet. I'm so mellow now ... :rofl: Doing the remedial exercises can't hurt. It's just part of training. At least that's what I tell myself when I'm trying to do those ultra boring RC exercises. Hey, I should be doing those right now in fact ... Jim: Poor SS is under the weather and you're being a big meanie! :thhbbb:

Take at least a month in the year where you do no whip kick at all. Heartily agree with the long warmups. Don't ever do all *** workouts. For a stretch, slowly lowering from a kneeling position until you are sitting on your heels, or supported by a towel or blanket if you can't go that far down. As you get more flexible, you can finally sit between your legs. Easy does it.

If you are familiar with ballet, then I would recommend Demi-plié and Grand-plié. Be careful though, don't do those if you have never taken ballet, doing them wrong will not help anything. But doing it correctly helps my stability and helps me use more muscle in my legs instead of putting all the weight on my knees.;)

If you are familiar with ballet, then I would recommend Demi-plié and Grand-plié. Be careful though, don't do those if you have never taken ballet, doing them wrong will not help anything. But doing it correctly helps my stability and helps me use more muscle in my legs instead of putting all the weight on my knees.;) I's been some time since I've done a plie demi or otherwise. Add to that tour en l'air, grande batmon, pas des chat etc etc. Now shall we dance?:groovy: :banana:

Give up *** and swim a real stroke like fly.:joker: Poolraat!! You beat me to the punchline!! Well I guess you snooze you lose...BUT There will be PLENTY of other opportunities to sling puffballs at the British one!! Newmastersswimmer

helpfuls stuff.. It's just a blip. I had a bad kick and felt it at the time it happened. I've swam miles and miles with my original technique, in fact trying to "whip" more is how I did it--and probably not warmed up enough.. So I won't be doing that again--I don't care about changing styles for better time or PR if it means I can't swim. I have enough issues with my back. I don't think the tiling isn't affecting my knee. I got pads. A back brace and my left arm supporting me 90% of the time. Knee is like 90% today. I can take some lateral strain now (e.g. drag inside of foot on the rug to test) but the ligament let's me know that it's not 100%. So more ice. I doubt that it's chronic but if so I'll have to look at some of the stuff Forty noted. I'm looking more for day to day things to keep it in shape., and strong. I'm hoping the remedial stuff won't be needed or this will be a short USMS career, and I'll stick to lapping. I'm not here for what I can do but for what I can do without overly risking injury.

I's been some time since I've done a plie demi or otherwise. Add to that tour en l'air, grande batmon, pas des chat etc etc. Now shall we dance?:groovy: :banana: But it hasn't been that long since you posed in front of the mirror in your tutu now has it Richie!!....LOL!! :thhbbb: :rofl:....but in all seriousness....sorry to hear about your knee....take it easy on those knees now old timer! Newmastersswimmer

Jim: Poor SS is under the weather and you're being a big meanie! :thhbbb: It's OK Leslie...I have thrown the gauntlet. :)