Pain Stretching

KateSykerd started this discussion · 4/29/2011

Hey guys :) So I've just started poling more often (a few times a week rather than once a week), and I've started doing some stretches too to improve my flexibility. However around the same time I started this, I also fell over quite spectacularly onto my knees (trying to drag a suitcase that was too heavy for my up some steps - teaches me :P). Ever since my knees have been hurting on and off, and I've no idea if its the increased poling and stretching (I stretch every day) or the fall... And I'm wondering if I should just work through it or rest it. I'm really new to excersize, so I've no idea what to do! Any kind of help would be much appreicated, cause I don't want to do any damage to myself, but at the same time because its my knees resting it would mean I can't really do anything. Thanks for any help you can give x

2 replies

Miraine · 4/29/2011
Hello :) Several months ago I was bouncing on my knees on a trampoline and, whilst I didn't actually hurt my knee at the time, it sort of felt a bit odd, and later that evening began to ache. This just got worse with time and made me stop taking the dance class I'd just signed up for. I went to the doctors and they basically just said "It's probably inflamation in the joint, it'll go away in a couple of months" the first time I went, and the second time they had me take ibuprofen at the maximum dose for two weeks. I'd say see a doctor of course, but suspect you may get the same treatment as me... :) To be fair, ibuprofen was sorting it, as it takes the inflammation down for long enough for the tissue to start to repair itself (it's so hard to not use knees!), but I used to be asthmatic, and after one week, the NSAIDs caused a return of that, so I wasn't allowed to keep going with that. They gave me a physio referral (not that I've heard anything since, after 3 months), and suggested a few exercises to do to strengthen the muscles that protect the joint. They were: Sit with legs out straight and feet flexed (not sure if that's important, or just how they drew it!). Alternate between pressing a leg downwards into the floor for a few seconds, then lifting it a couple of inches off the ground (still straight). Since the other exercise was basically to stretch your legs, I think stretching should probably be ok in moderation! Anyway, my advice would be, see a doctor even though they'll probably tell you it'll sort itself out in 3 to 8 months (aaaaaaargh), and try ibuprofen at the max dose (3 times per day) for a fortnight if you don't have asthma or other contraindications. Remember to eat something when you take the tablets, even if it's just a biscuit and a glass of milk.
Layla Duvay · 4/30/2011
Hi guys! I've found certain pole moves tend to affect my knees badly (they're already beat up from years of aerobics). I found a Yoga Today podcast that has been an absolute godsend! It's called "Therapeutic Knee Exercises with Neesha episode #19." I have it in my iTunes and use it as needed and it works really well! Plus, it's free, which I love!