a grinding of the knees

[wydrav13]

my knees grind actually just my left. cant remeber injuring it. but when i squat down, i get the nasty grind tear sound i take gluecosamine. i doesnt hurt yet, is my life, over. obviously cartlige problem, what can i do. roll over and die?

[jon]

We talked about this a while back. He's the thread.

http://www.cascadeclimbers.com/ubb/Forum11/HTML/000006.html

I'd go see a couple of doctors if you feel a lot of grinding. I say a couple because you most likely will get a different diagnosis from each as well as a different treatment regiment. Be very weary of the knife!

 

[K_Y_L_E]

The grinding could be a couple of things. First of all if it is a creeking sound/sensation more than a grinding it is a good posibility that you have some tendonitis (usually patellar tendonitis). Pain with this condition usually seems to be coming from the big tendon under the knee cap. If it is a actual "grinding" sensation with pain "under" your patella (knee cap) it is possible that it may be a condition called chondromalacia. This is a condition in which the underside of the patella, which is covered by a cartillage pad, is roughed up and when it rubs in between your femoral condyles (end of your femur near the knee) it causes a grinding and pain that feels like it is under the patella or "inside the knee. Usually it gets roughened by the the patella not tracking properly. This can be due to a weak quad muscle called the "VMO". THe condition is often referred to as patellofemoral pain syndrome. This can usually be taken care of by strengthening the "VMO". Another possibility is a condition involving the meniscus of the knee. This is more cartillage that helps cushion the knee. A problem with this usually involves pain along the inside of the knee. Sometimes a "locking" of the knee is associated with it after you perform a deep knee bend.

No matter what it is, if you are an avid climber and wish to get in some good climbs this spring/summer it would be a good idea to get it checked out by either a Physical Therapist, an Orthopaedic Surgeon, or an Athletic Trainer. Of course with out even looking at the knee or with out more info these are just educated guesses. But they may lead you in the right direction.

Good luck and good climbing

K Y L E

[K_Y_L_E]

Oh.....and your not going to die!

Usually most conditios of the knee can be resolved by doing some therapy. You just have to stick with the program, which is the hardest part.

K Y L E

[Smoker]

I had a weakened quad and ignored the warning signs for years, (knee cap would dislocate under stress) I dont recomend ignoring the signs. I ended up hyper-extending my knee and snapped the ACL. Very painful and a long recovery.

See a specialist. Good luck

Smoker

[Courtenay]

...And in most cases, if it's just a little creaky, but no pain, it's probably no big deal (most people's bodies have their little creaky noises.) If it's painful, then as Kyle suggested, see a sports med doc, good PT, or knowledgeable trainer. It indeed it is the VMO (inner, tear-drop shaped quad muscle) that is weaker, try the exercise suggested at http://www.bodyresults.com/E2kneetest.com to see for yourself and strengthen it. The step-down has a much higher correlation to climbing and normal every day use (going down stairs) than the machine, the leg extension, will ever have, so don't bother with the machine unless that's all you have available to you for strengthening. Keep us posted on your progress.

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Courtenay Schurman, CSCS

[Courtenay]

Let's try that link again, sorry folks -- so used to putting ".com" behind everything -- http://www.bodyresults.com/E2kneetest.htm

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Courtenay Schurman, CSCS