What makes me weak in the knees! *Warning to all freestylers

Caleb · Post by **Caleb** » 13 Nov 2004 18:58

So, after four years of footbag I've been noticing my knees becoming progressively worse. It started out that after a really hard shred my knees would be sore. Then, they would be sore for multiple days. Now, after any session, still soreness. So this is when I decided to go see a doctor.

I'm still waiting for the x-ray results but here's the deal:

Posibility 1.) After so many sessions, and so many minor pulls and tears to my ligaments and tendons calcium deposits begin building in the healing joint. Well, if this accumulates the only option is SURGERY!

Posibility 2.) Patella-lhgddgg (weird scientific name) Syndrome. Tearing of the padding underneath the knee cap. This causes bone-on-bone friction which creates permanent damage.

Posibility 3.) Simply over-stressing the joint, ligaments, and tendons. This is what I'm hoping for. That way there is no permanent damage an no knife.

Either way I've spoken to a general physician and a physical therapist and they've both said obviously footbag is causing this problem and obviously I won't stop. So I after to stop my distance running (which I'm replacing with swimming and biking) and I have to start moderate lower body strength training. I know this causes muscle memory to be thrown ALL out of whack but that's the only option to even continue practicing freestyle. The added strength to the muscles around the knee will make stress from footbag be consumed by these muscles and not the joint itself. So I guess we'll see how this works. I'll also post what the x-rays and orthopedic physician say.

I just thought I should post this information because it was news to me and it may be useful news to others in this situation. I hear knees are important, so protect them guys.

SlashC · Post by **SlashC** » 13 Nov 2004 21:47

Possibility 4.) Stress fracture!

I just got an x-ray done on my knee to check for that. I'm hoping it's not actually one of those other things you mentioned.

BalinorNZ · Post by **BalinorNZ** » 15 Nov 2004 06:27

Only time i get sore knees is after a blazing set sesion.

shreddaily · Post by **shreddaily** » 15 Nov 2004 21:48

Caleb wrote: I have to start moderate lower body strength training. I know this causes muscle memory to be thrown ALL out of whack

I would heavily disagree. If you do it right and don't become a body builder it can help you're game alot. It did for me and it looks like alesh has lifted a weight or 2 and his muscle memory looks ok.

Best of luck caleb.

Caleb · Post by **Caleb** » 16 Nov 2004 10:12

hey thanks nate. i kept thinking about ales as an example of how this may work out. if anything, this could have a pretty cool influence on my style since all i will be able to do for a while is spin and duck (the complete opposite of like everything i do for those of you that haven't seen me shred). but yeah it's cool to get those wishes to be well. thanks again.

i haven't talked to the physical therapist yet. the point of starting this thread was to inform footbaggers of safe exercises to prevent the knee injuries i just experienced in other kickers. (if anyone is interested). and maybe add a few onto Hood's list. so i'll let all you guys know when i get the list.

qphox · Post by **qphox** » 16 Nov 2004 10:24

That's kind what I'm stuck with too Caleb. I can't really atomic or pixie or quantum right now without my hipping acting up on me, so whenever I'm kicking at the bus stop or whatever, it's always Clipper based.

Look out world, Kevin hit Diving Clipper > Ducking clipper > rpt.

Caleb · Post by **Caleb** » 30 Nov 2004 11:36

Well, here's the lowdown so far. I got a referral to go to an orthopedist clinic and the doctor there said I have patellar tendonitis. She said it's probably from over using the joint and pulling or tearing the tendons causing them to become inflammed. Seems to make sense. So I went to physical therapy and it turns out my left patella sits 1.5 cm. higher than my right. Sure sounds like SOMETHING is inflammed.

So, the PT guy has me doing a lot of stretching and he heats and ultrasounds it 3 times a week. The heat loosen the tendons and ligaments wound so tight that they push my knee cap out of alignment and the ultrasound speeds the healing process. So hopefully if I keep this up and keep away from anything even resembling a footbag I can be back in action in anywhere from 4-6 weeks.

I was going to post the specific exercises and stretches that I have to do at physical therapy but it turns out, Hood had them ALL covered on his site. And yes, after recovery I'm instructed to keep strengthening the lower body to prevent such pains from coming back. So if any of you are skooling PS whirls and feeling a slight twinge in your knees I would recommend not wasting time and preventing any damage to your body. Hit the weights (or in this case, hit the resistance bands).

And have no fear, I'll be at Chilly Philly no matter how the knees are doing. Either kicking or filming.

full nelson · Post by **full nelson** » 30 Nov 2004 13:20

You better be kicking by New Years, Caleb, or I'm gonna land a ps whirl on your face!

A knee brace is an affordable option for a liittle strength to play for a weekend. I had one on each knee at CP last year

Hope you heal up quick, buddy.

Caleb · Post by **Caleb** » 30 Nov 2004 21:46

Haha. Thanks Brad. I hope I won't be disappointing you in Philly.

professor · Post by **professor** » 30 Nov 2004 23:40

Actually lower body strengthening I feel has helped me prevent any knee sorness. I strength trained for 4 years before I started footbag. I'm not huge like Ales or anything, but I've noticed that I don't get knee pain at all even after lots of whirls or symp. whirls.

When I first did these moves, the motion was new to my knees so ya they did hurt a tad, but after a couple of days I had no problems and none since. The only part of my body that has been injured from footbag is the only muscle I didn't work out while weight training and that was my hip muscles. So I think lifting weights to stregthen your legs will definitely help your knees out.

Shredster · Post by **Shredster** » 01 Dec 2004 00:21

I have sore knees after many many hours or shred, or lots and lots (and i do mean lots since i do symp a lot anyways) of symposium.

other than that, i get those crappy shin splints, primarily in my left leg.

jhibbs · Post by **jhibbs** » 01 Dec 2004 19:30

I should add, I've been off my game for nearly a year due to various injuries, the most persistent and current being patellar tendonitis. In my case the inner quad is too weak for the outer quad, and the imbalance pulls the kneecap out of alignment. I have a feeling that the overdevelopmnt of outer quads, or muscle imbalances in general, may cause a majority of players' knee problems.

I started riding an exercise bike (high settings) and stretching and it seems to be helping.

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What makes me weak in the knees! *Warning to all freestylers

What makes me weak in the knees! *Warning to all freestylers

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