Anyone recovered from a knee injury with experience?

[rhilllakefield]

Hi folks,

After a long term knee issue (both knees) I'm looking at taking a new direction with my MA training.

I've trained in Karate for years, and developed what I later realized was patella femoral syndrome, and a fairly severe muscle imbalance.

For a while I was quite scared, because I wasn't too sure on what was causing my pain. Now through physio and weight training my knees feel close to 95%, and still improving.

I've been looking at starting either JKD or Krav Maga to sway away from low stances and static kicking, but have recently fallen in love with Shotokan and have found a great club.

Long story short, have any of you long timers had knee injuries recovered and continued to train long term? I'm 35 this year, been training since 9 yrs or so.

I just wanted to open up a discussion. I also find it hard to train with any abbreviation. I like to train at full capacity and completely without taking any shortcuts. (although my jodan mawashi/ yoko geris have become chudans)

Any thoughts?

[mal103]

Firstly - who really needs to kick anyone in the head? If you were in a serious competition against some scary fighters would you consider going for a head kick with the real chance of getting the other leg swept. If you were confronted by 3 blokes would you be looking for 3 head kicks, or to take out a knee or two? (or other more delicate lower down parts?)

From my experience I have suffered from a left knee pain mainly due to running on hard ground and a bad technique, this has been made worse by having a bad Karate technique and not twisting my supporting leg whilst performing Kekomi or Mawashi kicks.

I have made this situation better by changing my running technique, strengthening my knees/legs with Gym machines and ensuring my Karate was performed properly!

From what i've seen Shotokan can be practiced a lot with the correct techniques and without any pain, or it can cause a lot of issues if done incorrectly. Possibly the same for any exercise or style.

[Wastelander]

Well, I have some sort of undiagnosed condition with my knees that leaves them prone to dislocation. I have actually dislocated my right knee twice--once in each direction--and it still causes me pain when the weather changes or if I put too much lateral or twisting pressure on it. My left knee will sometimes hurt, as well, but I've never dislocated it, although I've come close on a few occasions. I've never seen a doctor to diagnose why my knees are having issues, but my mother (a nurse) has told me that I'll probably need knee surgery someday.

I actually found that the deep stances of Shuri-Ryu (similar to Shotokan) helped strengthen my knee and reduced my pain. I can't say that the same would be true for you, but that was my experience. Since I now practice a style that uses higher, more natural stances, I actually have to incorporate extra exercises to make sure my knees stay strong.

In the end, every person's body is a little different, and you need to listen to it. If you enjoy the Shotokan training and it doesn't bother your knees, then keep it up! If it does bother your knees, see if your sensei can help you adjust it to fit you better. If that doesn't help, you'll have to look for something else if you want to keep your knees healthy.

[rhilllakefield]

Thanks guys,

I appreciate the responses. I think I'm just scared of a permanent issue, after feeling the pain of even walking for a while. It was sobering to say the least.

After a good hard class, every part of my body hurts.....except for my knees!

So I may keep up with these guys and see. I have a long way to go to adapt to the Shotokan Katas!

Thanks again.

Ryan

[armanox]

Maybe you want a karate style that doesn't use such deep stances, like Shorin Ryu? We have quite a few people that have had knee issues (a recent black belt of ours has had both knees replaced...).

[brickshooter]

I think that correct alignment is the most important thing. Whether you're a runner, weight lifter, martial artist or hiker. Essentially your knee needs to be directly above your feet at all times.

Sounds easy in theory. In reality many of us over or under pronate, consequently this puts too much pressure on the inside or outside of the knees. Over time this will wear out the knees.

So if you run, get a proper foot bed. Same if you weight lift. And if you practice Karate, you have to make sure that your knees are on top of your gfeet when executing stances.

Deep stances won't harm knees. Deep stances with improper alignment will harm knees.

[rhilllakefield]

Thanks for the replies.

I think that's my worry. In slow controlled Kata, everything is perfect. In the heat of it, its easy to be off by and inch or two or three in any direction.

Also, I've found the transition between stances and the twisting while in something like a Nekoashidachi has irritated me before.

I wish there was more in my area, although I think this Shotokan club is a great group.

I might ask the Sensei, if I can abbreviate the stances and shorten them slightly. He knows about my concerns.

[Nidan Melbourne]

I've trained with a bad knee for the last 9 years and I train 3 times a week often for 2 hours each session.

I have a lack of meniscus in my knee. But nothing stops me. I can't do a Jodan mawashi geri but instead I do have a mean Mae geri and kin geri to compensate