Rehab, exercise, stretching. Called being over 30

Moonangie wrote:Strengthen your hammies and quads to protect your knee. Do squats (high reps, low-ish weight) and lunges against resistance (i.e., rubber bands). Stretch regularly (i.e., multiple times per day, before AND after playing). Do core strengthening work (e.g., pilates, yoga) to protect your back and everything beneath it (e.g., your knees). If you want to play hoops throughout your middle age and maintain viability, it takes work.

For me, I decided to stop playing hoops as it's just too much work to keep my ACLs protected. I don't have the time. My major ACL repair was at age 33. I played five more years competitively before I decided to stop. But I have many friends who still play well into their forties, though many nurse injuries along the way.

Martin: I've just had x-rays done. He showed me from the x-rays that I had "wear and tear" on the front part of my knee below the knee cap. So I guess that means it's arthritis, not tendinitis but I don't really know.

Bonn1997 wrote:

Nalod wrote:
Bonnie,

I have broken my neck, had open heart surgery and playing the best tennis ever at age 50.

Everything hurts. But yah gotta keep pushing thru it.

Basketball is really hard on EVERYTHING!

If you want to play sports you might have to mix it up a little as to what you play. I can't imagine playing basketball anymore.

Thats because I stopped. Don't stop playing and you can continue to play for a long time.

Play often, its the weekend warriors that get hurt most.

IM playing tennis 3-4 times a week and its getting better. I just jump for balls at the net like I want to cuz I strain my legs like fat Eddy!

Does the Doc offer any exercised to keep the knee strong? Want to you wear any kind of knee support?

That's definitely a good attitude. I know I'm definitely lucky I haven't had the kind of problems you had.

Ah, your young still!

Actually broke my neck playing basketball of all things at age 20. A lot of things went wrong in one instant for it to happen. Took me out for about 2 years. Came back strong and was playing even beter at that time at a lighter weight. Then I landed wrong and it just seemed my whole spine was out of wack for an instant. Never played again. Nothing happened but it just freaked me out.

I just could not go all out anymore and lost my desire to play.

Life is funny, if not for the neck thing I don't meet my wife who tomorrow we celebreate 25 years of marriage. An amazing journey BTW!

One door closes and another opens?

Take a month off and rehab that knee with all the exercise's and sprints to stay in shape. Get it strong and you'll feel good about it.

Injuries happen and its gonna happen. Regarding "Mircofracture" im thinking you might be a bit to worried about it.

After all, you are a bit anal!

You still in Alabama?

Bonn1997 wrote:

Moonangie wrote:Strengthen your hammies and quads to protect your knee. Do squats (high reps, low-ish weight) and lunges against resistance (i.e., rubber bands). Stretch regularly (i.e., multiple times per day, before AND after playing). Do core strengthening work (e.g., pilates, yoga) to protect your back and everything beneath it (e.g., your knees). If you want to play hoops throughout your middle age and maintain viability, it takes work.

For me, I decided to stop playing hoops as it's just too much work to keep my ACLs protected. I don't have the time. My major ACL repair was at age 33. I played five more years competitively before I decided to stop. But I have many friends who still play well into their forties, though many nurse injuries along the way.

Are you able to play other sports now? My physical therapist has given me a lot of exercises to do, and I've been doing them for about a month. My legs are definitely stronger now and I feel better balanced playing basketball, but the discomfort hasn't gone away. She has me doing wall squats (just holding myself in the squat position against the wall) and lunges without weights. I easily have the strength to do the exercises but I do feel discomfort in my knee on each rep. She said as long as the discomfort isn't severe, I have to keep doing the exercises because I have to strengthen my legs.

Martin: I've just had x-rays done. He showed me from the x-rays that I had "wear and tear" on the front part of my knee below the knee cap. So I guess that means it's arthritis, not tendinitis but I don't really know.

X-Rays do not reveal anything but bone structure. It doesn't show Cartilage damage or tendons. I know my Doc told me the same thing he said I have an arthritic knee had X-Ray done. Told him I want an MRI. Got the MRI done and revealed a Baker's cyst in the back of the knee. Went to a specialist he said structurally there is nothing wrong with the knee and that the Cyst will rupture on its own and to continue to run and exercise.

Nalod wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:

Nalod wrote:
Bonnie,

I have broken my neck, had open heart surgery and playing the best tennis ever at age 50.

Everything hurts. But yah gotta keep pushing thru it.

Basketball is really hard on EVERYTHING!

If you want to play sports you might have to mix it up a little as to what you play. I can't imagine playing basketball anymore.

Thats because I stopped. Don't stop playing and you can continue to play for a long time.

Play often, its the weekend warriors that get hurt most.

IM playing tennis 3-4 times a week and its getting better. I just jump for balls at the net like I want to cuz I strain my legs like fat Eddy!

Does the Doc offer any exercised to keep the knee strong? Want to you wear any kind of knee support?

That's definitely a good attitude. I know I'm definitely lucky I haven't had the kind of problems you had.

Ah, your young still!

Actually broke my neck playing basketball of all things at age 20. A lot of things went wrong in one instant for it to happen. Took me out for about 2 years. Came back strong and was playing even beter at that time at a lighter weight. Then I landed wrong and it just seemed my whole spine was out of wack for an instant. Never played again. Nothing happened but it just freaked me out.

I just could not go all out anymore and lost my desire to play.

Life is funny, if not for the neck thing I don't meet my wife who tomorrow we celebreate 25 years of marriage. An amazing journey BTW!

One door closes and another opens?

Take a month off and rehab that knee with all the exercise's and sprints to stay in shape. Get it strong and you'll feel good about it.

Injuries happen and its gonna happen. Regarding "Mircofracture" im thinking you might be a bit to worried about it.

After all, you are a bit anal!

You still in Alabama?

Yeah, I am definitely a worrier. I'm in Alabama but thankfully only for another month. I took a psychology position in Pittsburgh because I wanted to return to the northeast. I like the city a lot.

Bippity10 wrote:Had the exact same thing. Ignored it. Iced it. Played throught it for about 10 years. December 28th I had microfracture surgery. It's been a long time and I just received permission to run on it, but it feels great. I'm in my the upper half of my 30's(real age will not be revealed)and have recovered well.

Pitt is a great town. YOu gonna be teaching still?

Q. Bonn1997 - Anyone here have similar experiences?

A. One of the most important things I learned after minor knee surgery to deal with a torn meniscus is that rehab never stops. You need to pull a DeJuan Blair and keep the muscles around the knee as strong as possible with careful weight work. Wall sits and leg extensions are your best friend. If not, the muscles atrophy faster for some reason. As a fellow tennis player I feel your knee pain because hard courts have NO give. Ergo, Solution number one - find some clay courts to work into your routine. Solution number two - do a Patrick Ewin and ice your knees after you play, if you wanna get freaky widit, stand in a barrel of ice water like the NFL dudes do in training camp.

Third - Rest between tennis days. Like the more elderly Knicks of a few years ago on back to backs, the second night is not pretty - consecutive days are for yoots.

Finally, watch your weight and stay trim. Less poundage. Less pounding.

Ginger is a great anti-inflammatory.

Advil my man, Advil.

NYKBocker wrote:I am 42 and everything hurts. Doc said I have arthritis on bottom of my kneecaps and knee tendinitis on top of the left knee cap. I can't sit for long stretches as my left knee is just unbearable.

Man that really sucks. Is that from sports? There's no surgery or anything that can be done for it? What were you like at 32?