Swimming makes my knees feel loose
Discussion
Strange one this. I'm a pretty decent runner and used to swim at lunchtimes as a form of cross training.
Since June, swimming seems to make my kneecaps feel loose, almost like clicking sensation and with the quad pulling different ways. There's no pain but it doesn't feel quite right. If I stop swimming, the problem goes away.
Any ideas? Swimming is meant to be good for joints! I did knock my left knee quite hard on a door frame at the end of May but it doesn't explain why both knees have been affected.
NB this is doing front crawl, which, theoretically, shouldn't aggravate the knee.
Since June, swimming seems to make my kneecaps feel loose, almost like clicking sensation and with the quad pulling different ways. There's no pain but it doesn't feel quite right. If I stop swimming, the problem goes away.
Any ideas? Swimming is meant to be good for joints! I did knock my left knee quite hard on a door frame at the end of May but it doesn't explain why both knees have been affected.
NB this is doing front crawl, which, theoretically, shouldn't aggravate the knee.
ocrx8 said:
Strange one this. I'm a pretty decent runner and used to swim at lunchtimes as a form of cross training.
Since June, swimming seems to make my kneecaps feel loose, almost like clicking sensation and with the quad pulling different ways. There's no pain but it doesn't feel quite right. If I stop swimming, the problem goes away.
Any ideas? Swimming is meant to be good for joints! I did knock my left knee quite hard on a door frame at the end of May but it doesn't explain why both knees have been affected.
NB this is doing front crawl, which, theoretically, shouldn't aggravate the knee.
Shouldn't aggravate the knee if you're kicking right! Should all be from the hip, with small flex at the knee.Since June, swimming seems to make my kneecaps feel loose, almost like clicking sensation and with the quad pulling different ways. There's no pain but it doesn't feel quite right. If I stop swimming, the problem goes away.
Any ideas? Swimming is meant to be good for joints! I did knock my left knee quite hard on a door frame at the end of May but it doesn't explain why both knees have been affected.
NB this is doing front crawl, which, theoretically, shouldn't aggravate the knee.
Perhaps just swim with a pull buoy?
NO WAY!! I Get this - I thought I was the only one! I cant give it full beans in the pool because it feels like my knees will fall apart - used to be just on normal kicking, but now its happening on breast stroke froggy legs too. Of course try looking it up on the internet and all you get is pages on how swimming is the best exercise for people with bad joints! I just put it down to old age. knees give me no trouble at all when cycling or running.
Edited to pluralise knee!
Edited to pluralise knee!
I get the same problem with my left knee when I go cycling; it feels like the knee cap is floating, not painful but certainly disconcerting. I went to a physio for the first time about it (and a few other knee issues). She identified a tight IT band amongst other issues. I've been given a stretch to do and whilst I have been cycling yet, walking is slightly easier already.
I've been doing a lot of leg strengthening work to try and solve it (weak quads is apparently a common explanation for knee pain) and haven't noticed any ill-effects from the leg extension machine.
Re tight IT band - I'm glued to my foam roller enough as it is, there's no way it can be tight with the amount of abuse it gets daily!
Re tight IT band - I'm glued to my foam roller enough as it is, there's no way it can be tight with the amount of abuse it gets daily!
I was ready to post about breastroke, as that's a classic for knee problems, but front crawl is interesting. As others have said, there's a fair possibility that you're not kicking right. The kick is a weird thing, because you can think your amplitude is about 6 inches when actually it's about three feet - therefore try to get someone to watch your kick and/or watch some You Tube videos on how the kick should be done and practise at the side of the pool whilst hanging on to the edge.
Ultimately, you may like to consider learning what I do, which is a two beat kick (aka '2BK'). The 2BK is just a small flick of the lower of your two legs to aid rotation that you do once a stroke. It's not just to preserve your legs due to injury or needing them for a Triathlon - Sun Yang (1500m world record holder) does it, along with many others. You Tube again will show you this.
Ultimately, you may like to consider learning what I do, which is a two beat kick (aka '2BK'). The 2BK is just a small flick of the lower of your two legs to aid rotation that you do once a stroke. It's not just to preserve your legs due to injury or needing them for a Triathlon - Sun Yang (1500m world record holder) does it, along with many others. You Tube again will show you this.
RobM77 said:
I was ready to post about breastroke, as that's a classic for knee problems, but front crawl is interesting. As others have said, there's a fair possibility that you're not kicking right. The kick is a weird thing, because you can think your amplitude is about 6 inches when actually it's about three feet - therefore try to get someone to watch your kick and/or watch some You Tube videos on how the kick should be done and practise at the side of the pool whilst hanging on to the edge.
Ultimately, you may like to consider learning what I do, which is a two beat kick (aka '2BK'). The 2BK is just a small flick of the lower of your two legs to aid rotation that you do once a stroke. It's not just to preserve your legs due to injury or needing them for a Triathlon - Sun Yang (1500m world record holder) does it, along with many others. You Tube again will show you this.
Yep, very difficult to know how big your kick is. I still struggle sometimes on backstroke and I have been swimming competitively for over 20 years. Its a concious effort at times to keep the kick small and tight. This is because of the rotation on back mainly which allows you to move your foot so far without breaking the surface.Ultimately, you may like to consider learning what I do, which is a two beat kick (aka '2BK'). The 2BK is just a small flick of the lower of your two legs to aid rotation that you do once a stroke. It's not just to preserve your legs due to injury or needing them for a Triathlon - Sun Yang (1500m world record holder) does it, along with many others. You Tube again will show you this.
2 beat kick I think is quite difficult to get right if not used to it. You have to get the timing right. Its a good way to take the biggest muscles in your body out the equation though, without letting the hips sink. Good for distance swimming.
As mentioned kicking really begins at the hip and its like a whipping action...small motion at the top, bigger motion at the bottom and its all in the ankles. The more flexible the ankles the more efficient your kick. Toes should be pointed and slightly pointing inwards (but not pointed taught like a ballerina, its pointed, but relaxed so your ankles can let your feet flop about).
If you have stiff ankles which a lot of runners and cyclists do (I help my friends with swimming who have a strong history of rowing, cycling and running, but little swimming and they have the worst ankles ever) I think the temptation is to bend the knee more to get some kind of action from the feet. Its hopeless though. Do ankle stretches.
ocrx8 said:
I've been doing a lot of leg strengthening work to try and solve it (weak quads is apparently a common explanation for knee pain) and haven't noticed any ill-effects from the leg extension machine.
Re tight IT band - I'm glued to my foam roller enough as it is, there's no way it can be tight with the amount of abuse it gets daily!
I'm getting treatment for a tight ITB and his advice is that the foam rollering is a waste of time.Re tight IT band - I'm glued to my foam roller enough as it is, there's no way it can be tight with the amount of abuse it gets daily!
http://breakingmuscle.com/mobility-recovery/your-i...
Don't think that it will help your knees much though...
Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff