Knee weakness

[Gypsiyee]

So, when I was younger (baby-early childhood) my legs were shaped like < >. They were really bad - they said they would need to break both my legs to repair the condition, but my mom refused and asked that we see how they grew.

Well, they straightened out pretty well, but I've always had random shooting pains around my knees, especially at night - they get to the point where I can't sleep sometimes, but since it's been happening for so long I've grown accustomed to it, I suppose. It usually only bothers me in the winter, as when it snows it's virtually impossible for me to keep my balance on ice.

I joined a gym in January, and have been going regularly. I generally try to do at least 20 mins of cardio and then go to the circuit room and go around the circuit 3 times. The cardio, however, has been a problem for me for about the past month because after about 10 minutes my knees hurt so bad that it's everything I can do to keep going for the next 10 without wanting to just fall over in pain.

Being as summer is coming, I want to shed this extra winter weight and know I'll need cardio to do so. The elliptical is what I generally use for cardio - any recommendations to make it a little less painful or a different cardio program to try?

[Mop]

Are you doing squats or lunges?

Um for cardio it's tough I would play around with the eliptical resistance and make sure you are keeping your weight on your heels not the balls of your feet.

that is a tough question = (

[Gypsiyee]

I generally try to incorporate squats and lunges into my routine, but they're also pretty painful at times.

On the elliptical I generally stick with a pretty low resistance and try to keep my weight fairly balanced, I can try to push more on my heels.

It's kind of a relief knowing I'm not a complete retard, though - I'm glad it's a tough question =b

[Mop]

The next time you do squats and lunges I want you to pay attention to a couple things, most ocmmon mistakes that put pressure on knees as opposed to muscles...

For Squats Point your toes slightly outward, let your knee follow that line of your feet so they are going slightly outward... When you get all the way down ( parrallelellelellelellell) Make sure that you can see your toes - if you cann not see your toes, drop your butt further back, when you can see your toes, try and wiggle them, this will force the pressure into the back of the foot causing it to place the pressure on your hips and quads not your knee and shin. If it feels really uncomfortable try this during your squat

- Take a weight hold it out directly infront of you ( arms strait out from shoulders) When you squat down this will force your back to stay in proper allignment so that you are not leaning forward this will make the other things fall into place fairly easily



OK lunges... love em, they are great, hate em, they fuck with the knees..so here is how we fix that ...

- First the form..Your knee should move very very little it should neve rgo ove rthe ankle. Like the squat, toes should be able to move fully while in the Lunge. Your body weight should be fairly well balanced between your legs so that one leg isnt working more than another in the movement. try and do it as a walking lunge so that you are alternating the pressure on the legs. try and keep the weights light.

[Mop]

as for cardio :

can you do incline walking?

[Gypsiyee]

I can, I've just always stuck to the elliptical for less impact and balance reasons - too much walking leaves me wobbly.

My cousin has the same knee problem as I do, she was blessed with a high metabolism and doesn't work out, though. She's getting surgery and is having both her legs broken and said that I might need to do it too - I'd just like to find out if it's something some form of exercise can fix before I even start looking into something that extreme, though.

[Gypsiyee]

Ok Mop ~ I did incline walking yesterday - knees were a bit sore, but it seemed ok - actually significantly less painful than the elliptical. 20 minutes at 15 incline at 3.5 80% of the time, 4 the other 20%.

What's your recommendation for the incline walking?

[The Kizzy]

Have you tried taking a few tylenol before your workout? It might help with the knee pain.

[Gypsiyee]

Tylenol does absolutely nothing for me, but I have tried Aleve - it does help a little, but I also don't know how I feel about taking pain medicine daily ya know?

[Mop]

the problem with the elipticalalalalalalalal is it is designed for somene a specific hieght and weight, usually if you dont fit these catagories you end up having your feet fall asleep and getting some knee pain while doing it.

sux