Knee pain - advice appreciated

Hi,

I have similar problems on steep descents - walking the SWCP is my
particular nemesis especially as I'm normally carrying a full pack.

I'm sure following posts will suggest going to a sports therapist or
such like and getting it sorted, however in the meantime, I've found
using a pair of walking poles to control my decent and help dissipate
some of the strain on my knees has helped.

James
http://www.wheresthepath.com

Shaun Woodward said:

on Saturday whilst descending from Striding edge

Quoted message said:

Has anyone had pain in a similar place

No, I usually get mine on Welsh Mountains. ;-)

Quoted message said:

and most important what is the remedy??

Can't you guess? Walking poles! They really do work. A pair is best.

Paul

Quoted message said:

Can't you guess? Walking poles! They really do work. A pair is best.

Fully agree. Did a couple of steep ascent/descents between Kimmeridge and
Lulworth Cove coastal path in Dorset Saturday (earlier posting) (yes, not
mountains but some serious ups and downs on the cliffs) and used two poles.
Brilliant at absorbing the shock going down, and help to ease the pressure
going up. Certainly worth it, but use both and adjust the length between
up/down/flat to ensure maximum benefit.

--
Sandy Saunders @ www.thewalkzone.co.uk

'Mountains or Mole Hills .....
summiting still brings the
same excitement'

"Shaun Woodward" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Sorry to bring up this old chestnut, but on Saturday whilst descending
from Striding edge I started to experience a sharp pain in both knees.
It felt like the pain was centred in the centre of the knee cap and as if
the pain was located behind the kneecap. It was quite intense in one leg
and luckily not too bad in the other. I have not had quite such a sharp
pain before. I did have a heavier pack weight than I have carried for some
time which may have contributed to my suffering. No pain at all when on
slight downhill gradient or on the flat or when ascending
Has anyone had pain in a similar place and most important what is the
remedy?? I don't want to subscribe to uk.wreck.walking just yet.

Shaun Woodward

I always associate this type of knee pain with fitness, when I am hill fit I
never get this pain, however, if i am not up in the hills every week (lets
say I have a month off) then I can get the discomfort you are describing!

At a guess your pain is probably caused by the Femur touching the back of
the patella, it is very common in hillwalkers and is very likely due to the
quads tiring and not doing their job of protecting the knee properly.

Firstly you need to improve the fitness and strength of your quads, this is
quite easily achieved, when ascending (even a flight of stairs) push from
your heel not the ball of your foot, this makes the quads work rather than
the calf.

Secondly, on long descents rest periodically, this will allow the quads to
recover.

Note, Knee pain on ascents is not as common because the energy transmitted
through the knee is limited to your own leg strength (when your muscles tire
you stop). On descents we use gravity and our muscle have to work to protect
the joints, (when the muscles tire the joints get damaged)

Take longer on your descents, take 5 mins rest after every 1000' descent,
this will allow the quads to recover

Of cause you must see a doctor first to rule out anything serious, and don't
what ever you do take any advise from folk on a newsgroup!!! :-)

"Shaun Woodward" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Sorry to bring up this old chestnut, but on Saturday whilst descending
from Striding edge I started to experience a sharp pain in both knees.
It felt like the pain was centred in the centre of the knee cap and as if
the pain was located behind the kneecap. It was quite intense in one leg
and luckily not too bad in the other. I have not had quite such a sharp
pain before. I did have a heavier pack weight than I have carried for some
time which may have contributed to my suffering. No pain at all when on
slight downhill gradient or on the flat or when ascending
Has anyone had pain in a similar place and most important what is the
remedy?? I don't want to subscribe to uk.wreck.walking just yet.

Shaun Woodward

Left knee problems have dogged me for the past 6 years. I try and exercise
them by squats or leg extensions. Walking poles are a god send and really
help. Try a few squats on the hills every now and then as legs tend to
stay fairly stiff while walking for a few hours. On downhills, walk slowly
(in my case, very slowly).

See how that goes before spending money of sports therepy.

Jhimmy

Message-ID: <[email hidden]> from Stuart contained
the following:

Quoted message said:

I always associate this type of knee pain with fitness, when I am hill fit I
never get this pain, however, if i am not up in the hills every week (lets
say I have a month off) then I can get the discomfort you are describing!

I've had this twice, once coming down Ben Nevis and once coming down
Snowdon.

I can see I'm just going to have to move closer to the hills.

--
Geoff Berrow (put thecat out to email)
It's only Usenet, no one dies.
My opinions, not the committee's, mine.
Simple RFDs http://www.ckdog.co.uk/rfdmaker/

i have suffered in the past with knee pain while walking
i found a bit of cycling has helped a lot also use a pair of poles on the
downhill sections

"Jhimmy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Shaun Woodward" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Sorry to bring up this old chestnut, but on Saturday whilst descending
from Striding edge I started to experience a sharp pain in both knees.
It felt like the pain was centred in the centre of the knee cap and as if
the pain was located behind the kneecap. It was quite intense in one leg
and luckily not too bad in the other. I have not had quite such a sharp
pain before. I did have a heavier pack weight than I have carried for
some time which may have contributed to my suffering. No pain at all when
on slight downhill gradient or on the flat or when ascending
Has anyone had pain in a similar place and most important what is the
remedy?? I don't want to subscribe to uk.wreck.walking just yet.

Shaun Woodward

Left knee problems have dogged me for the past 6 years. I try and
exercise them by squats or leg extensions. Walking poles are a god send
and really help. Try a few squats on the hills every now and then as
legs tend to stay fairly stiff while walking for a few hours. On
downhills, walk slowly (in my case, very slowly).

See how that goes before spending money of sports therepy.

Jhimmy

Geoff Berrow said:

I've had this twice, once coming down Ben Nevis and once coming down
Snowdon.

I can see I'm just going to have to move closer to the hills.

Sorry to have to tell you this Geoff, but simply living next to hills
doesn't actually cure knee pain... ;-)

Paul

Shaun Woodward said:

Sorry to bring up this old chestnut, but on Saturday whilst descending from
Striding edge I started to experience a sharp pain in both knees.
It felt like the pain was centred in the centre of the knee cap and as if
the pain was located behind the kneecap. It was quite intense in one leg and
luckily not too bad in the other. I have not had quite such a sharp pain
before. I did have a heavier pack weight than I have carried for some time
which may have contributed to my suffering. No pain at all when on slight
downhill gradient or on the flat or when ascending
Has anyone had pain in a similar place and most important what is the
remedy?? I don't want to subscribe to uk.wreck.walking just yet.

Shaun Woodward

I've experienced exactly similar problems with my knee when I was young.
It first happened to me descending Scafell. A solution I found which
numbed the excrutiating pain on steep portions of the path down was to
walk backwards! Okay not to be recommended on Striding Edge but safe on
the tourist path down Scafell. Even though progress was slow and I
looked silly, the relief from the pain was total. Next day the pain was
gone.

I guess I was lucky the problem occurred only 4 or 5 times over ten
years and never again out on the hill - it struck when going downstairs
at home or out shopping. And it hasn't occurred for twenty years now.

So if you're lucky you may not be wrecked yet!

Quoted message said:

I've experienced exactly similar problems with my knee when I was young.
It first happened to me descending Scafell. A solution I found which
numbed the excrutiating pain on steep portions of the path down was to
walk backwards! Okay not to be recommended on Striding Edge but safe on
the tourist path down Scafell. Even though progress was slow and I looked
silly, the relief from the pain was total. Next day the pain was gone.

I guess I was lucky the problem occurred only 4 or 5 times over ten years
and never again out on the hill - it struck when going downstairs at home
or out shopping. And it hasn't occurred for twenty years now.

So if you're lucky you may not be wrecked yet!

It's a few days later and I have had no pain at all in the knees, I hope it
was a one off occurrence we shall just have to wait and see this weekend !
I was a bit miffed because I have upped my exercise routine considerably in
the past 12 months, Gym 2/3 times a week , running once a week for 20/25
minutes, plus 30 mins cardiovascular work in the gym every visit, (cycling
/ski/treadmill 10 mins each ). As a result a 15 mile walk ususally breezes
by without the suffering I used to get with aches and pains from tired
muscles.
Many thanks to Paul for the exercise website sent in reply to me I have
been looking for something like this for a while on the internet and
probably gave up on about the 10th page on google.

Shaun Woodward said:

As a result a 15 mile walk ususally breezes by without the suffering
I used to get with aches and pains from tired muscles.

Ah, 15 mile walks! I'd love to be able to do those again...

Quoted message said:

Many thanks to Paul for the exercise website sent in reply to me I
have been looking for something like this for a while on the internet
and probably gave up on about the 10th page on google.

Really? It was the first one I clicked on!

Just had a closer look. Not bad is it? Here's the link for anyone else
interested.
http://www.exrx.net/Exercise.html

Paul

Quoted message said:

downhill gradient or on the flat or when ascending
Has anyone had pain in a similar place and most important what is the remedy?? I don't
want to subscribe to uk.wreck.walking just yet.

Since I have taken up regular MTBing and road cycling
I never get dhll knee pain. Although locking the leg then stepping down
doesn't help.

As my head of PE said in school, it's a very unnatural movement.

Uphill is normal.

I suggest bulding the quads up by leg curls (the one where
you sit on the bench und hook the top of your
foot under the bar andlift your foot up to worj the quads,
or cycling or swimming.

Nick

I practice various forms of Martial arts 5 days a week, I walk on average
twice a week, either one or two hours, terrain is mainly light incline with
medium hard track, some steep sections.
Going up is fine but coming down.....I could cry.
Now I would say my Quads are very good, my basic leg fitness and stability
is very, very good.
I use a pole, I plant my feet well, heal first with soft knee, my boots are
good, with the correctly aligned insole..
So I just grin and bear the pain or walk backwards, I would dearly love to
get a really good walk in...but I know I ain't gonna come down!.

Next stop?

John.

"Nick (Scots)" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

downhill gradient or on the flat or when ascending
Has anyone had pain in a similar place and most important what is the
remedy?? I don't want to subscribe to uk.wreck.walking just yet.

Since I have taken up regular MTBing and road cycling
I never get dhll knee pain. Although locking the leg then stepping down
doesn't help.

As my head of PE said in school, it's a very unnatural movement.

Uphill is normal.

I suggest bulding the quads up by leg curls (the one where
you sit on the bench und hook the top of your
foot under the bar andlift your foot up to worj the quads,
or cycling or swimming.

Nick

"Shaun Woodward" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Sorry to bring up this old chestnut, but on Saturday whilst descending
from Striding edge I started to experience a sharp pain in both knees.
. No pain at all when on slight downhill gradient or on the flat or when
ascending
Has anyone had pain in a similar place and most important what is the
remedy?? I don't want to subscribe to uk.wreck.walking just yet.

Shaun Woodward

Have suffered the same in the past. I used elasticated knee suports -
available from all good chemists. These are relatively cheap and removed my
pain totally. As I built up strength in my knees I found I didn't need the
supports, although I always take them with me when I know I'll be walking
several days on the trot.

Roger C

Roger, what do they look like.
John.

"Roger" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Shaun Woodward" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Sorry to bring up this old chestnut, but on Saturday whilst descending
from Striding edge I started to experience a sharp pain in both knees.
. No pain at all when on slight downhill gradient or on the flat or when
ascending
Has anyone had pain in a similar place and most important what is the
remedy?? I don't want to subscribe to uk.wreck.walking just yet.

Shaun Woodward

Have suffered the same in the past. I used elasticated knee suports -
available from all good chemists. These are relatively cheap and removed
my pain totally. As I built up strength in my knees I found I didn't need
the supports, although I always take them with me when I know I'll be
walking several days on the trot.

Roger C

Geoff Berrow <[email hidden]> wrote on Mon, 23 Jan 2006 20:01:41 +0000:

Quoted message said:

I've had this twice, once coming down Ben Nevis and once coming down
Snowdon.

Would that have been twice on the same day, and did the trip involve
another slightly smaller hill in between...? ;-)
--
Rudi Winter, Aberystwyth, Wales

Back in 2001 (When England was closed due to foot and mouth) I went to
the Picos on my first foreign backpacking trip. I hadn't been walking
since February and the close of the countryside so I guess you could say
I wasn't as hill-fit as I should have been.

By the end of the 10 days backpacking I was in such excruciating pain I
could no longer stand un-supported and had to drag myself everywhere on
walking poles (even across the campsite for a wee).

Since then I have been careful/paranoid about hurting my knees. When I
go on day walks, I carry Lekis but try not to use them, just to
strengthen my knees. I've found this has helped a lot, the problem has
only appeared as a mild twinge since then. I've also found that running
down hills (with a large backpack on!) seems to be easier on the knees
(and quicker and more fun).

Jay

Paul Saunders said:

Shaun Woodward said:

on Saturday whilst descending from Striding edge

Quoted message said:

Has anyone had pain in a similar place

No, I usually get mine on Welsh Mountains. ;-)

Quoted message said:

and most important what is the remedy??

Can't you guess? Walking poles! They really do work. A pair is best.

Paul

On Thu, 26 Jan 2006 18:36:35 +0000 (UTC), [email hidden] (Rudi

Winter) said:

Quoted message said:

I've had this twice, once coming down Ben Nevis and once coming down
Snowdon.

Would that have been twice on the same day, and did the trip involve
another slightly smaller hill in between...? ;-)

You have the right to remain silent!

Judith

I can sympathise with you Geoff as any weakness will be exposed as you
descend a mountain, resulting in a great deal of pressure on the knees.

Having benefited from the use of magnetic pain relief products and at
present a distributor, you have nothing to lose by trying these products
with the money back guarantee.

I can send you free information without any obligation.

Hope this is of some help,

Aled Evans
www.healthmagnet.ik.com
www.letsescape.co.uk

"Rudi Winter" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Geoff Berrow <[email hidden]> wrote on Mon, 23 Jan 2006 20:01:41
+0000:

Quoted message said:

I've had this twice, once coming down Ben Nevis and once coming down
Snowdon.

Would that have been twice on the same day, and did the trip involve
another slightly smaller hill in between...? ;-)
--
Rudi Winter, Aberystwyth, Wales