Knee problems FML!

[bigtavi8]

**** my life. lol..jk but seriosly i have been trying to bring my legs up the last few months and i have been training them about 3 days a week as well as calves 3+ times per week. Every time i go heavy on squats, front squats, leg presses im ok during the sets but the next 2 days or so my left knee below the knee cap gets swollen and very sore. I beleive its my patella tendon acting up. I ice it 20 on 10 off after intense workouts and just picked up some glucosamine to try and patch it up.Any suggestions...

[AlladdinSane]

Ice: 20 on/ 40 off.

...and that's just for starters. There is a lot that needs attention in that post.

[bigtavi8]

Ok 20/40 it is..what needs attention if its in regards to the glucasomine i realize it takes a long time to take effect (months) but i have no other ideas really. I have a human kinetics background and do some physiotherapy coop so i know some exercises i can do to rehab it a bit so im going to start with that.

[L3]

one of the things AS is refering to is that you are not optimizing your growth potential in your legs by training them too often

1ce a week is plenty, unless you have a program developed by a professional

[baza]

Yeah 3 times a week is way too much.
I have bad knees too, I hate to think how it's going to be when I'm in my 40s and on.
I also get shinsplints. SO after running I spend about an hour icing from my lower shins, up to my knees.

[bigtavi8]

Ya i think maybe ill tone it down to 1-2 times per week. I just love training legs i gotta slow down tho..lol..great feeling and good pump..

[AlladdinSane]

one of the things AS is refering to is that you are not optimizing your growth potential in your legs by training them too often

1ce a week is plenty, unless you have a program developed by a professional

Right.

If you really need to train them more than once a week, split quads and hams up.

OR you could start up a westside style ME/DE plan (although those are more "squat" based workouts and not so much "leg" based workouts).

[Shortdave]

Also, do you know how to squat properly so that all the stress isn't being put directly on the knee?

[maximus14]

i have that same problem on my right knee after icing and glucosamine as your doing the pain went away but its still a giant bulge under the knee that wont go away

[Dave]

Right.

If you really need to train them more than once a week, split quads and hams up.

OR you could start up a westside style ME/DE plan (although those are more "squat" based workouts and not so much "leg" based workouts).

+1 here

If you really want to do leg twice a week you should slit it up. Also doing squat will train your lower back and this muscle got the slowest recovery rate of all muscle. Not sure it won't cause any problems to your lower back too.

For glucosamine it take about 1 or 2 months before you start to see some effects. You should take about 4 caps per day every day.

For the squat try to larger your leg position so you'l have less stress on them and don't stop in the middle of the movement because by doing so you'l have all the stress on your knees. Always perform full squat with less weigth and don't bounce while you get down.

[C-money]

i have that same problem on my right knee after icing and glucosamine as your doing the pain went away but its still a giant bulge under the knee that wont go away

I used to get water on my knee, i stopped locking out all of my reps on squats, extensions... i wouldnt even realize i was doing it once i was starting to fatigue, now no matter how tired i am in a set i keep my knees bent which burns like a mofo! .. i havent had that issue in over a year, so far so good..

[GYMBRAT]

I never lock out neither, actually couldn't even if I wanted to, I thrashed both my knees back in my MX racing days....sure feel it nowa days!!!

[Big D]

I used to get water on my knee, i stopped locking out all of my reps on squats, extensions... i wouldnt even realize i was doing it once i was starting to fatigue, now no matter how tired i am in a set i keep my knees bent which burns like a mofo! .. i havent had that issue in over a year, so far so good..

x2

my knees used to kill me, I would lock also.

I always keep my knees bent and I feel so much better

[tiramisu]

First step....
Admitting you have a problem... You are injured.

Second step... Step away from the squat rack (or at least back off to the point of no pain) for 6-8 weeks or untill the pain is gone. It will still be there in a month.

Third step... Figure out what caused the injury (don't do that)

You almost certainly already know that tendon injuries suck and they go chronic easily.
RICE rest, ice, compression, elevation then MEAT movement, exercise, analgesics, treatment

[Direwolf]

This is what I suggest: Get a couple of ART treatments. ART stands for Active Release Treatment. It is awesome. Basically it removes scar tissue build up from joints. I personally use it on my shoulders and honestly it feels like WD40 for your joints. My trainer is a certified ART technician and does have a lot of clients with knee problems.

The results are great. Google ART to find someone in your area. Trust me you won't regret it

[GYMBRAT]

good stuff

[faller]

Also, do you know how to squat properly so that all the stress isn't being put directly on the knee?

Bingo!!

[grifter]

It could be "jumper's Knee". My wife was recently informed she has this. She was doing many bootcamps which focused mainly on the lower body. She was doing this 3-4X's/wk

Basically it is severe pain just below the knee and caused by overuse and not enough recovery time.
You could also try placing a towel on the floor, place your feet ontop of the towel and try to curl your toes and grab the towel. This works the muscles just below the knee.

[bigtavi8]

Well it got pretty bad so basicly i am only going to do legs 1 time this week. I was going to do what was suggested about the 2 times a week splitting it up but i will start next week. Knee is feeling very good now after about 4 days break on it.

[scubadiver]

I couldn't do regular squats in the squat rack because of knee pain. I switched to front squats and that seems to alleviate the problem. I think it's because it forces me to use lighter weight.

[tiramisu]

video your squat and post it. From the side and from the front.
Your knees shouldn't hurt from squatting. You've got a technique problem that needs fixing once you heal.