Burning calories

Press, 22 June 1989, Page 11

Burning calories

By

JUDI SHEPPARD MISSETT

Q: My knees are driving me crazy! Ever since I started an exercise programme, I’ve become very aware of how painful those joints can be. What am I doing wrong? A: Many active people have knee trouble. In fact, of all the injuries that occur during recreational sports, the vast majority involve the knee.

That’s easily understandable: The knee is fragile and vulnerable, a very delicate mechanism that connects two large bones, the femur and the tibia.

When one simply walks around, the knee withstands the stress of up to twice one’s body weight. It regularly performs a demanding array of gyrations, including stopping, starting, bending, twisting, jumping, walking and running.

If any activity causes you pain, you certainly should pay attention, since pain is your body’s way of signaling trouble. Your best bet is to check with your doctor. If your injury was not sudden and acute, such as a blow to the knee or a

wrenching motion, your knee problem probably developed over a long period. You could suffer from one of several conditions.

Pain localised in the kneecap might indicate chondromalacia, or “runner’s knee.” It’s a dull, aching pain that develops slowly as the cartilage under the kneecap deteriorates, and activities like running and aerobics cause it.

If you experience sharp pain right around the kneecap, which sometimes feels warm and swells, you may have patellar tendinitis, or “jumper’s knee.” If so, you’ve irritated or torn tendons connecting the kneecap to the front thigh muscles and the shinbone.

At first, you’ll feel discomfort after your workout; as time passes, you’ll feel pain during your workout; when the condition gets really bad, it can prevent you from working out at all.

You can manage these conditions. If you regularly perform exercises that strengthen your quadraceps, the pain is likely to go away. Stretching properly before and after your workouts will also prevent trouble. Some people find relief if they wear elastic knee braces especially designed for their conditions. Shoe orthotics also offer relief. Of course, proper footwear is a must. A small piece of bone or cartilage can get knocked loose and cause pain when you try to extend your knee fully. The loose particle is likely to work itself free.

You may, though, need arthroscopic surgery to repair the damage. If your knee locks or causes you pain when it’s extended, give it a rest for a couple of days. If there’s no improvement, or if the swelling fails to go down, it’s time to see your doctor. Don’t take the risk of damaging your knee further by putting off proper treatment.

— Copyright, Jazzercise