Knee Pain

[MARKBENJ 1]

Requesting advice regarding knee and ankle pain. I have no swelling in the area just an awkward nagging pain and a lot of clicks when lying down and moving my knees or ankles. I have started skating after a long break of about 30 years. At the age of 18 I retired from playing A Grade hockey due to a myriad of injuries. Now at age of 48, I am getting off the ice with pain in my knees and ankles. Can anyone give me good advice regarding warm up and stretching which will help me to strengthen my knees and avoid all the aches and pains which are beginning to effect my performance on the ice. I am working out 4-5 times a week for about 2 hours each time. I am in good shape, not overweight and pretty fit for my age. I think that trying to do what you did at the age of 18 when you are 48 may be under the heading of Mission Impossible.

[Vet88 674]

lol, I agree with you last comment. I'm in a similar situation. I don't have much ankle pain but both knees kill me if I work them to hard in a particular way. Pain radiates below the knee cap on the inside to the front of the knee. Ended up having an mri on mine as I had osteoarthritis in my hips and I thought my knees were the next to go. Mri showed no issues but normal wear and tear for my age. One of the best knee surgeons in our country told me there is nothing that can be done. You are putting considerable stress thru the tendons and ligaments and they are not used to it after a long lay off. Best thing to do is to try and find out what it is that causes the most stress, for me it is turning back to front and vice versa (twisting over the knee), and then try to minimise this maneuver during training or consider changing your technique.

On the plus side, the more you skate the more your knees will strengthen, it's just a matter of time (and I make this comment on the assumption that there is nothing fundamentally wrong with your knees). I had the same thing with inline but that doesn't bother me anymore and it is gradually decreasing this year with all the ice time I have put in. A good physio will help you with ankle and knee exercises if you can get to see one, I can think of ankle rolls and calf raises for the ankles, lunges and curls for the knees. Skiers have the same issues and there are lots of good exercises on the web for strengthening these areas.

I haven't resorted to a knee brace but those I know who do use them because of some damage to the knee say they work well.

As to warm up, I don't believe in stretching until the muscles are warm from exercise so I just get out there and skate easily for a few minutes with lots of edge drills. It's working so far for me.

[MARKBENJ 1]

Vet88 thanks for your comments. It was nice to hear that the more you skated the better the situation was because I don't want to be less active. I also think that it is good advice to start slow until muscles get warmed up because when I am in the middle of a training session the pain almost disappears. Thanks again.

[sss1987 55]

This might be completely useless to you.. but my right knee can hurt a lot (from an old injury) after practice sessions and games.

I have been using some superfeet insoles in my skates recently, and my knee doesnt seem to hurt at all (in my case always used to be the next day).

[Trooper 8]

There is NO way anyone on the internet is going to be able to help. There are a million reasons your knee could hurt. If it is bad enough, see someone who can do a real assessment and determine the root cause. Only then can you start to address the issue.

[Gummer12 134]

Trooper is exactly right. Go see a Dr.