四海一家

Health issues in Mid-life

Wow, such a long introduction, obviously having mid-life health issue.

Just notice the passage about the knee problem, I've read a book which also recommends the swiming therapy - but not breast stroke, which put a lot (?) pressure on the knee.

Also testing if I can write something here without joining...

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Permalink Reply by Arthur on May 24, 2008 at 10:12pm: I have always wondered about knee exercises that is supposed to strengthen the knee.

Common prescription is that if you exercise to strengthen the muscle that holds the knee together, such as lifting weight with your leg, it is good. My experience is just the opposite --- when my knees hurt, the more I do those knee exercise, the worse it gets; rest has worked best for me.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by 秉浩 on May 24, 2008 at 10:30pm: Again I believe it has to do with the nature of the knee problem. If your knee suffers because of severe muscle or ligament problem, the typical "quadricep strengthening" exercises may not work. However, they work beautifully for osteoarthritis, "deconditioned muscles" or weakened knees, and even mild cases of ligament and muscle sprain.

Are you sure you have done it at the right pace, and not over-aggressively? As a general rule, start with 2-5 lbs tied to the ankles, and do set of 10 movements for each leg, 3 sets per day. Do not increase the weight until at least you have managed 5 to 7 days of this exercise without worsening symptoms like swelling, more heat, stiffness or pain in the knees.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by 秉浩 on May 24, 2008 at 10:24pm: I personally believe swimming of all styles is harmless to the knee. The water resistance in the flexion-extension phases of the leg motion is minimal, and hence the reactionary force on the knee joint cannot be significant compared to land-based exercise. In the abduction phase (i.e. bringing together of two straightened legs) the knee joint is locked, and muscle tension around the knee joints are maximal. That type of force will not usually cause wear and tear on the cartilage, though naturally it will worsen tendinitis (i.e. inflammation of the muscles), if tendinitis is indeed the problem of the knee.

So in a real case of arthritis, without coexisting muscle injury, breast stroke should be OK. If there is coexisting muscle injury, it is less certain depending on the individual case and how much tendinitis there is. Ultimately, the patient and his her smart internist need to decide together if it is worth continuing.

And it is quite perplexing that someone can discuss without joining a group... really? I actually believe your have joined.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Waiyan on May 24, 2008 at 10:43pm: I clicked the "join the group" button, but no response, and I still couldn't comment, that's why I thought I didn't join the group. However, I just check the group "homepage" again, now I can comment, that probably means I did join the group.; ▶ Reply to This