Inner knee pain with splits?

PilatesPoleKat started this discussion · 4/20/2012

Hey ladies! I've started working on my splits, and when I work on straddle splits the tendons (ligaments?? idk) become very painful...it's only slightly sore afterwards. My hips don't bother me at all, just whatever muscles/tendons are in my inner knees! Has anyone else experienced this? I have weak knees (knee caps go out of joint if I run too hard), could this be why? I don't mind if they will strengthen over time, but I don't want to damage anything either... thanks for any advice/input :) -Kat

5 replies

Dancing Paws · 4/20/2012
You might be pushing too hard. I felt those when I was really tight, but it went away with stretching over time.
SashaMae · 4/20/2012
Yeah that happens to me sometimes too. I feel like it's the worst on days when I haven't warmed up as much as I should-so I try to get some cardio and a sweaty workout in before my deep stretching.. Also my knees are kind of weak too but I started doing knee strengthening excersizes i found on youtube. that has really helped as well. When I told my friend (a lovely ballet dancer) about my knee pain for front splits she told me to push the top of my hind foot into the ground and that helped, too :)
Veena · 4/20/2012
Have you seen someone about the Kneecap and running issue? It sounds like you could have an muscle imbalance. Have you tried the straddle with knees up and also with knees forward? Some will find one more comfortable than the other.
PilatesPoleKat · 4/20/2012
Thanks yall! Veena - I'll get that checked out...that makes sense. Thank you!
RedFox · 4/20/2012
I"m so glad you asked that question. I have inner knee tendon pain when I stretch for splits as well. I"m going to try to ballerina's advice!