knee problems - help with endurance

[SkateSkateSkate]

Hey everyone, I was diagnosed last summer with Patello-Femoral which means my knee caps do not move or track properly over the femur and it causes alot of pain. I was told by the doctors that I cannot run or jog or do anything that puts stress on my knees, including drylands, walking on inclines/hills & I even have to take it easy on starts because it causes pain. My question is if anyone has any suggestions on some other exercises besides running/jogging that I can do to help build up my endurance that would be easy on the knees? I need help BAD (I just started speed skating again last month & I am out of shape big time) Thanks!

*~Anne~*

[Davey_Speedstar]

Didn't LS-Mike develop a 'slide-board' type exerciser a year or so ago?

[GuinnessGirl]

Hey everyone, I was diagnosed last summer with Patello-Femoral

I've suffered from this since age 12....and now have little cartilage left

I find skatings brilliant, so is cycling-it does rub the knee caps but no-where as bad as impact sports. Swimming is excellent, and the crawl builds up the front of your quads which is essential to pull your kneecaps back in line. Depending on which way you knees are misaligned (mine pull to the outside) you have to do some serious physio on the opposite muscle, so for me its lots of inner leg exercises (again cycling seems to strengthen this area of the knee) and straight leg exercise with the foot turned out. LOTS of them. If a gym has those thigh machines you can use them to work the inner leg muscles too.

Warm up loads before skating-starting does still hurt but the pain eases off quicker this way

Put sorbothane insoles in all your shoes-reduces shock impact that you even get from just walking. Still climb mountains just go down inclines sideways or backwards (seriously). DO NOT do any running sports anymore-its not worth it, you'll end up having a patelloectomy (what I've been told is my next option-nice) or a major knee realignment (and they will just spring back) or even a full replacement at a far too young age.

I know it sucks-I had to give trampolining, netball, hockey and worse my lovely Jitsu and that made me cry

But skating makes up for it

[SkateSkateSkate]

Hey thanks for your reply Guinnessgirl, I appreciate it. Its nice to know that I'm not alone with this diagnosis. My knees pull to the inside so I guess I would need to do more exercises with the "outer" thigh. I think its so weird to develop this out of the blue but I guess it happens and according to my doctor its very common in athletic people especially women.

"I've suffered from this since age 12....and now have little cartilage left" Ok that scares me especially since my doctor told me this syndrome doesn't ruin cartilage etc.

"straight leg exercise with the foot turned out." Do you do with the foot turned out whether your knees are misaligned inward or outward?

Thanks again for you help

[GuinnessGirl]

"I've suffered from this since age 12....and now have little cartilage left" Ok that scares me especially since my doctor told me this syndrome doesn't ruin cartilage etc.

Thats because they misdiagnosed me for 10 years and so I wasn't doing the correct exercises, and I was still doing a load of high impact sports-meaning my kneecaps were rubbing on bone more than they should be, hence more wear and tear. I've also got hyper-extension of the knee ligaments which doesn't help as the whole joint rubs too much...so don't freak out-as long as you do the right exercises you can minimise the rubbing, and your cartilage should be fine. it may also be related to the fact my knees, unlike yours pull otwards.

"straight leg exercise with the foot turned out." Do you do with the foot turned out whether your knees are misaligned inward or outward?

Thanks again for you help

This is for knees that are lisaligned to the outer region of the joint. I'd check with a physiotherapist as to what you should do-I've heard of people having knees misaligned like mine but never pulled inwards! I'd guess you should do a lot of outer quadricep work

But seriously, go see a physio-its definitely worth it!