Swimmer Health: Knee Ligaments & the pool

Ouch, Jeff. I sprained mine jumping off a curb 2 years ago (doh!). The thing that helped me most was a brace; I wore it constantly at first (even on the hottest summer days), and then weaned myself after several weeks when it finally became uncomfortable. Be sure to get one that had great lateral support, if you go that route. I wasn't swimming then, but when I started I used a lightweight neoprene support. I do fine now, but still feel slippage the day after I use the breaststroke kick. Good luck. My favorite brace: www.kneeshop.com/proddetail.asp I still drag it out if I'm going hiking.

Despite the relaxation of vacation, I was looking forward to returning home, as I had a hockey game on Monday evening against a team we don't like all that much (they're a beginner team that somehow has folks who've played before). Anyways, 1st shift, I end up taking one of their defenders into the boards behind the net. It was an ugly pile. Nothing exciting to report. 2nd shift, I end up falling, right skate first, towards the wall after a puck. Ouchy Wouchy goes the knee. I could barely get around on tuesday, and went to see a friend of mine who is an AT. She did her bending, pushing, pulling, etc., and said its probably something with the MCL or a meniscus. Spent half of my birthday waiting in the doctors office the next day, and he told me the same thing. Then spent most of today getting an MRI and waiting in the doc's office again. The verdict: MCL sprain. Phew. So its crutches, brace and PT for a few weeks. No surgery. No massive braces. September off for sports. So here's where you come in... Anyone had some knee ligament issues in the past? Any advice, at least as it pertains to PT and then getting back in the pool? Stud - looks like you'll be smoking me in breaststroke this year... :cheerleader: Muppet, Sorry to hear about your injury. Feel better fast! Hockey sounds too dangerous! Stick with swimming. Swimmy :cheerleader:

Sorry, I shouldn't have suggested in saying "be a slug" that you shouldn't continue to be active. In fact, I think swimming something other than evilstroke really should be fine, as you shouldn't under usual circumstances put any lateral strain on your knee, which would potentially strain your MCL. Sounds like a lot of us have experienced more severe knee injuries; as they go the MCL is fairly mild, so you should be in good shape in the long run.

Thanks for the replies, all. I appreciate the tips too! So far I am doing pretty well one week later, and can walk down stairs pretty normal. Still can't really bend the bender the full way, and we're still hurting now and then. One negative development, though... I'll be hitting the 200lb mark pretty easily now that I am vegging... wouldn't be surprised to see that tomorrow, actually.

Can I, yes. I just need to make it over there first. Update - a week and change later, I am walking a lot, albiet slowly, and saving the crutches for the longer journeys (ie from parking lot to office, etc.) just to continue to baby the knee. I can almost straighten it out full length. Was thinking I may try to get in and give the pool a whirl this week; we'll see. Great, but whirling may do you in--whirl carefully LOL!

A couple of weeks ago I was crouching down and when I went to stand up my left knee popped out away from my body sideways with alot - no a Sh*t load of pain. I leaned on my right leg holding my left leg afraid to look. It seems it went out of the socket and back in. I could not put any pressure on it by an angle of crouching, however I could stand on it. It has taken almost 3 weeks before i could crouch on it - I have iced it and kept from putting weight on it when bent and it appears to be working. re:It's hell getting old, isn't it? It is quite a drag getting older, just stay young at heart.:banana:

It's hell getting old, isn't it? :cane: You're pushing 30, right? :D Yes, Barb, I spent the better half of the afternoon I officially entered my late twenties in the doctors office expecting to hear my youth was officially over. Thankfully, I guess I still have a few years left ;) Donna, I gave it a whirl today... It has been two weeks to the day since my last swim - then I swam that nautical mile out to the island in Maine in probably 58degree water. brrrr. Co-worker Mark coaxed me into going. It definetely felt weird not to kick (yes, I know I am a distance swimmer who actually kicks) but I could feel every time my legs weren't straight back and start to cross over each other. Only did 400LCM, most of it just letting the legs hang. I did do a little bit of conscious kicking, and it felt ok, but I didn't want to push it. I will say that while it was a tad bit depressing, I was by no means sad/mad about it. I wasn't expecting to get in kick ass - I was more than happy to see that I could get in, test the waters, know my limits and actually do this without hurting myself. Along with the walking I've been doing lately, it gave me a huge confidence boost that I will make a full recovery.

I had an ACL full repair due to a tear and break in 1992. My orthopedic surgeon wanted me to move the knee because joints need to be moved. Right out of surgery, they had me in a CPM machine (knee moving up and down). I was back in the pool 3 weeks later (and still was in phys therapy). I used a pull buoy to restrict the legs and I pushed off the wall with my other leg (open turns). So at least I could do some anaerobic/aerobic work in the pool so as not to lose too much swim conditioning. I used the handicap lane in the pool. Plus this allowed me to work on freestyle, breathing patterns, shoulder strength and the pull buoy kept me horizontal. Was really glad I did this. Can you get in a pool yet? Donna Can I, yes. I just need to make it over there first. Update - a week and change later, I am walking a lot, albiet slowly, and saving the crutches for the longer journeys (ie from parking lot to office, etc.) just to continue to baby the knee. I can almost straighten it out full length. Was thinking I may try to get in and give the pool a whirl this week; we'll see.

Thanks for the advice. This is beginner, lowest of "D" league - and no-check. AND the third on my team to go down with a knee injury. It's hell getting old, isn't it? :cane: You're pushing 30, right? :D Seriously, you may find an Ace elastic knee brace gives a little lateral support when you start swimming. Good luck!

I had an ACL full repair due to a tear and break in 1992. My orthopedic surgeon wanted me to move the knee because joints need to be moved. Right out of surgery, they had me in a CPM machine (knee moving up and down). I was back in the pool 3 weeks later (and still was in phys therapy). I used a pull buoy to restrict the legs and I pushed off the wall with my other leg (open turns). So at least I could do some anaerobic/aerobic work in the pool so as not to lose too much swim conditioning. I used the handicap lane in the pool. Plus this allowed me to work on freestyle, breathing patterns, shoulder strength and the pull buoy kept me horizontal. Was really glad I did this. Can you get in a pool yet? Donna