Ouch!

[Jazz_Shoes (Ash)]

I managed to somehow get meself a sore knee last night whilst dancing, but I managed to carry on 'till the end of the night :grin: ...just one problem...it's still sore today! I'll be dancing in less that 3 hours! so can anyone offer any advice about a quick fix? I can rest it tomorrow :devil:

Any advice welcome

Ash x

[LMC]

Ash, this isn't what you want to hear - but don't do it - rest NOW.

I have an old knee injury from my netball days (disclocated it and tore 2 ligaments). I had loads of physio and generally don't have *any* trouble - but there is a weakness there which I notice a) on some yoga poses and b) when doing dips and taking the weight on my right leg - it's OK - but I just don't quite trust it sometimes - and I don't know until it's "too late"!

Knees are funny things... my *other* knee also plays up occasionally for no good reason. My doctor put it cutely - "knees are jealous".

Bear in mind the advice from the sunscreen song... "Be kind to your knees, you'll miss them when they are gone"

[Clive Long]

Ash, this isn't what you want to hear - but don't do it - rest NOW.

:yeah:

I have torn ligaments in my knees (and I am no athlete) and they take a long, long, long , long time to get back to an acceptable level. I don't think they ever fully recover.

Don't risk it. You will have a long time to rue it if you do damage them - you are too young for that. Don't jeapordise a life-time of dancing.

Clive

[Jazz_Shoes (Ash)]

Thanks for your info, and sorry about your ailments so to speak, i'll see how it goes, maybe dancing will help to losen it up or sumfin, it's not like it's swolen or anything :) Besides it is Salsa (which I NEVER done b4) so I prob won't be dancing much. Meeting up with friends :clap: that I hardly get to see :sad: :sick:

Ash x

[David Bailey]

Thanks for your info, and sorry about your ailments so to speak, i'll see how it goes, maybe dancing will help to losen it up or sumfin,
Err, probably not.

Seriously, if your knees go, you're totally f***ed - take it from us oldies, look after them, especially when dancing.

[Andreas]

I managed to somehow get meself a sore knee last night whilst dancing, but I managed to carry on 'till the end of the night :grin: ...just one problem...it's still sore today! I'll be dancing in less that 3 hours! so can anyone offer any advice about a quick fix? I can rest it tomorrow :devil:

Any advice welcome

Ash x

Depends on where it hurts and when it hurts. If it is just the knee as a whole a short rest may suffice but you really should rest.

If you feel pain on outside and inside of your knee, in particular when you walk down stairs etc. then it may well be iliotibial band friction syndrome(ITBFS), which can take ages to heal if you don't rest until it has gone!

So in any case: rest while you, rather than rest while you must! ;)

[Ballroom queen]

Hi all with knee problems. I had knee pain that started before christmas. I work with doctors and thought, hmm, don't want to see one of them, what will they possibly be able to do? finally, after 6 months of pain, I saw one, who referred me to physio. After 3 months of excercises, and to be honest, not really very much or many exercises, my knee is almost fully recovered. I can walk up and down stairs pain free - which sounds crazy but is fantastic. I wish I hadn't put up with it so long. One of the main things the physio told me was the importance of stretching. My knees are always stiff in the morning, and the first flight of stairs was always a killer. A ten second stretch of each leg in the morning and this no longer hurts.

So, yes, rest, to an extent, use ice esp if there is swelling - peas wrapped in a damp tea towel, for a max of 10 mins. Do not excercise - or dance - through pain. Stretch before and after dancing, warm up, stretch after a bit of warming up (I am sure any of you gym regulars will have more info on this).

I hope this helps

[RogerR]

Dancers are the fittest people I know BUT they always carry injuries, and one injury can stop you dancing for ever.

Remember to warm up and stretch before you start. Pain is a warning sign. Do NOT ignore it. Take medical advice and do the exercises.

Knees ankles and backs are beyond medical repair at the moment dont risk dancing for one dance.

[Ballroom queen]

Remember to warm up and stretch before you start. Pain is a warning sign. Do NOT ignore it. Take medical advice and do the exercises.

Knees ankles and backs are beyond medical repair at the moment dont risk dancing for one dance.

:yeah: :yeah:
and don't just resort to drugs and dancing thru hidden pain.

[Clive Long]

Hi all with knee problems. I had knee pain that started before christmas. I work with doctors and thought, hmm, don't want to see one of them, what will they possibly be able to do? finally, after 6 months of pain, I saw one, who referred me to physio. After 3 months of excercises, and to be honest, not really very much or many exercises, my knee is almost fully recovered. I can walk up and down stairs pain free - which sounds crazy but is fantastic. I wish I hadn't put up with it so long. One of the main things the physio told me was the importance of stretching. My knees are always stiff in the morning, and the first flight of stairs was always a killer. A ten second stretch of each leg in the morning and this no longer hurts.

So, yes, rest, to an extent, use ice esp if there is swelling - peas wrapped in a damp tea towel, for a max of 10 mins. Do not excercise - or dance - through pain. Stretch before and after dancing, warm up, stretch after a bit of warming up (I am sure any of you gym regulars will have more info on this).

I hope this helps
:yeah: to all the above. I would recommend "Stretching" by Bob Anderson, ISBN: 072071351X. It's very clear and well organised according to the sport / injury.

It's tedious but it works.My only extra advice would be when you go to a physio ask them what is wrong and why doing the exercises they recommend will improve the situation. If they can't explain both clearly I wouldn't trust 'em.

We may all seem moaning doom-sayers but we really have your best interests at heart :hug:

[Ballroom queen]

[QUOTE=Clive Long
It's tedious but it works.My only extra advice would be when you go to a physio ask them what is wrong and why doing the exercises they recommend will improve the situation. If they can't explain both clearly I wouldn't trust 'em.

[/QUOTE]

:yeah: :yeah:
My physio was Fab, drew me lots of diagrams and explained it all, and it worked. (and all on the NHS :clap: :clap: )

good luck :hug:

[Lynn]

I would agree with all the advice of resting it and not dancing. Pain is a signal that something is wrong and you need to be careful you don't add further damage.

I very occasionally get a sore knee. I don't know why - its almost always been when carrying something heavy like a suitcase up/down stairs so I think I might twist it. Its only happened about 4 or 5 times but when it does happen I rest it as much as possible, wear a support bandage if I have to walk on it, and its usually ok in a day or so.

Hope your knee is feeling better soon. :hug:

[Donna]

I managed to somehow get meself a sore knee last night whilst dancing, but I managed to carry on 'till the end of the night :grin: ...just one problem...it's still sore today! I'll be dancing in less that 3 hours! so can anyone offer any advice about a quick fix? I can rest it tomorrow :devil:

Any advice welcome

Ash x

Hi Ash.

Yep pain certainly is a warning and you should never ignore it. Sometimes you have to learn to listen to your body, which a lot of people don't and only regret it later on in life.

I suffer sometimes with my right knee. My mum had been dancing for many years and she suffered as well. What it was, was her cartilidge had been wearing away so it was then bone against bone. sometimes when she walks up and down the stairs you can hear it clicking away.

The best advice we were both given is to sit on the floor, legs straight out in front of you. Keep a straight back but lean back ever so slightly with hands flat out on floor either side of you to support you. Pointing the toes, lift the leg up and down using your own resistance. You can also open up a catalogue to the centre pages and place it on top of your ankle then do it. What this does is build muscle around the knee so it strengthens it up, then for those who feel there knees are weak, will no longer need to worry. You can do anything! :) It may be a bit sore for the first couple of days of trying it but just try 20 every other day (3-4 times a week) and it should be fine. H

Happy dancing.

:nice:

[ElaineB]

Hi Ash.

Yep pain certainly is a warning and you should never ignore it. Sometimes you have to learn to listen to your body, which a lot of people don't and only regret it later on in life.

I suffer sometimes with my right knee. My mum had been dancing for many years and she suffered as well. What it was, was her cartilidge had been wearing away so it was then bone against bone. sometimes when she walks up and down the stairs you can hear it clicking away.

The best advice we were both given is to sit on the floor, legs straight out in front of you. Keep a straight back but lean back ever so slightly with hands flat out on floor either side of you to support you. Pointing the toes, lift the leg up and down using your own resistance. You can also open up a catalogue to the centre pages and place it on top of your ankle then do it. What this does is build muscle around the knee so it strengthens it up, then for those who feel there knees are weak, will no longer need to worry. You can do anything! :) It may be a bit sore for the first couple of days of trying it but just try 20 every other day (3-4 times a week) and it should be fine. H

Happy dancing.

:nice:

I also suffer from a bad knee (damaged whilst dancing! :tears: ), but if I did Donna's excercises, it would make it worse! I suffer from a muscle imbalance and the last thing that the physio wanted me to do was to make my muscles even stronger. Suggest you get to see a physio straight away for some further advice.

Having also had a problem with my pelvis (common with us Ladies!), my chiropractor thought my knee problem could have started this off, although the opposite could also be true!

Good luck with it anyway!


Elaine

[Donna]

Having also had a problem with my pelvis (common with us Ladies!), my chiropractor thought my knee problem could have started this off, although the opposite could also be true!

I used to work in a doctors surgery and one of them told me that that is a load of nonsence. Your knee, hip, elbow or shoulder are in no way connected.

It's true that exercise or stretching can relieve such conditions. I've just pulled a muscle in my shoulder and my doctor told me to keep dancing because it will keep it loose. Also try Ibuprofen gel before you dance. This stuff is marvelous!!!!! :nice:

[TiggsTours]

Thanks for your info, and sorry about your ailments so to speak, i'll see how it goes, maybe dancing will help to losen it up or sumfin, it's not like it's swolen or anything :) Besides it is Salsa (which I NEVER done b4) so I prob won't be dancing much. Meeting up with friends :clap: that I hardly get to see :sad: :sick:

Ash x


No, no, no! Please rest it now! Knees are funny old things, and if you've done something, it could be rest it tonight through choice, or rest it for months because you're forced to! Also, salsa, with all its footwork, is actually quite demanding on the old knee joints, you'd be better off doing something you're used to, or as everyone's saying, ideally nothing!

[TiggsTours]

I used to work in a doctors surgery and one of them told me that that is a load of nonsence. Your knee, hip, elbow or shoulder are in no way connected.

It's true that exercise or stretching can relieve such conditions. I've just pulled a muscle in my shoulder and my doctor told me to keep dancing because it will keep it loose. Also try Ibuprofen gel before you dance. This stuff is marvelous!!!!! :nice:


Funny, I have dodgy feet, and due to that my whole skeleton has been pulled (everso slightly) out of line, this has been confirmed by 2 physios, doctor & sports therapist. They have given me weak ankles, bad knees, hips that hurt from time to time, and a bad back, which causes headaches!

[TiggsTours]

They have given me weak ankles, bad knees, hips that hurt from time to time, and a bad back, which causes headaches!

The feet that is, not the 2 pysios, doctor and sports therapist!

[Icey]

My mum had been dancing for many years and she suffered as well. What it was, was her cartilidge had been wearing away so it was then bone against bone. sometimes when she walks up and down the stairs you can hear it clicking away.

OK you've frightened me enough to actually do something! My knee does this now so I've called up the private healthcare that my employer provides to get the paperwork to arrange a GP referral to a physiotherapist :eek: :eek:

I want to dance but with several kneecap dislocations already through the years the last thing I want is more injuries. I'll be down at the GP surgery as soon as I get the forms.

[Donna]

OK you've frightened me enough to actually do something! My knee does this now so I've called up the private healthcare that my employer provides to get the paperwork to arrange a GP referral to a physiotherapist :eek: :eek:

I want to dance but with several kneecap dislocations already through the years the last thing I want is more injuries. I'll be down at the GP surgery as soon as I get the forms.

Wise decision Icey. Wise decision. :clap:

[Donna]

Funny, I have dodgy feet, and due to that my whole skeleton has been pulled (everso slightly) out of line, this has been confirmed by 2 physios, doctor & sports therapist. They have given me weak ankles, bad knees, hips that hurt from time to time, and a bad back, which causes headaches!

Burrrlimey tiggtours!! That sounds awful!!! :eek: Do you click a lot then???

[ElaineB]

Burrrlimey tiggtours!! That sounds awful!!! :eek: Do you click a lot then???

I do!!! Simon won't dance with me unless there is music!! :rofl: The knee doesn't hurt though (when dancing), just makes a horrible noise!! I have to remember to stretch out my thigh muscles, which helps!

I was told by my physio/chiro to stope wearing high heels every day to work as well (OK for dancing). Apparantly they put more strain on the knee joint than on the back! :eek:


Elaine

[MartinHarper]

You could always hand jive.
Or do that "lazy leading" thing where you don't ever move your feet.

[Daintyfeet]

My knee has been playing me up for a few weeks now. When I asked my GP, she said it is probably wear and tear, but not to stop dancing. She also told me to take cod liver oil and glucosamine because "they can't do any harm".

[David Bailey]

She also told me to take cod liver oil and glucosamine because "they can't do any harm".
That's IT? :rolleyes: :mad:

That's all the advice a trained medical professional can give you, about a potential injury to a vital joint in your body - "take cod liver oil because it can't do any harm"?!?! Did she even bother to examine you?

Get another opinion - seriously. Pay someone if you have to - physio or whatever. Don't settle for that level of advice - frankly, you get more constructive advice here than at your GP's..

Knees, shoulders, and backs - take care of them, 'coz you'll really miss them when they're gone.

Sorry for the rant, but both my mum and a close friend have developed knee problems recently, and they can seriously cripple you if you don't watch out. And I'd rather you be scared unnecessarily, than develop that sort of injury.

[Ballroom queen]

That's IT? :rolleyes: :mad:

That's all the advice a trained medical professional can give you, about a potential injury to a vital joint in your body - "take cod liver oil because it can't do any harm"?!?! Did she even bother to examine you?

Get another opinion - seriously. Pay someone if you have to - physio or whatever. Don't settle for that level of advice - frankly, you get more constructive advice here than at your GP's..

Knees, shoulders, and backs - take care of them, 'coz you'll really miss them when they're gone.

Sorry for the rant, but both my mum and a close friend have developed knee problems recently, and they can seriously cripple you if you don't watch out. And I'd rather you be scared unnecessarily, than develop that sort of injury.

Hi all, its nice to hear I'm not the only one who has suffered with knee pain!!!
Maybe we should set up our own web site!
Anyway, in answer to a few of you, I guess my 6 month hesitation to see a doctor was because I guessed they would say something similar to that stated above. I agree, (and I do know about drugs, its my job), cod liver oil won't do any harm, and my dad swears by it. The jury is still out on glucosamine, the studies just aren't any good, yet, although again, some swear by it, and I accept, it probably won't do any harm. but will it do any good???

Sorry to any GPs on line, but I would strongly suggest that anyone with knee pain simply sees a GP in order to get a referral either directly to a physio, or to an orthopaedic surgeon who will almost certainly then refer you onto a physiotherapist. I was lucky, I got a friendly consultant orthopod at work to refer me to physio. The Doc diagnosed, but the physio decided on the course of treatment - and he (I believe) has cured me.

I was diagnosed with patellar tendonitis which is now called patellar tendonopathy. Basically over 10 years of dancing has caused damage, it is also called jumpers knee - ie dancers knee. I found walking up and down stairs painful, I could hear clicking, walking down stairs was particularly bad, also doing big forward and backward steps in ballroom dancing hurt.

My excercises were with the aim of increasing the muscle strength of the muscle on the inner side of the leg above the knee, can't remeber the name. The physio also taught me how to tape my knee to get the patella back in alignment in order for me to ballroom dance without aggrevating it - I didn't want to stop my ballroom dancing - my physio wanted me to. With the knee taped I had no pain, however, this couldn't really be a long term solution. The excercises were mainly knee dips, on one leg, sometime with strong elastic between me and the banister in order to create more tension, sometimes leaning against a wall either with a pillow between the knees or my back leaning against a gym ball. All rather comical, but pretty simple. As I posted before, stretching before and after was essential.

After about 8 - 12 weeks I can walk down stairs pain free, mostly up stairs is pain free. Unfortunalty nose quins is shut, so no ballroom dancing - but my physio was pleased about that!

So, all you people with knee pain, please, see someone, don't be fobbed off, and be careful using Ibuprofen, it will simply reduce pain and you may not notice that you are doing further damage. My condition was not inflammatory, it was degenerative, so anti-inflammatories (ibuprofen) will not help. Excercise to improve muscle strength, and rest to allow healing and re-growth have and will help.

Hope that helps a little.

[ElaineB]

Hi all, its nice to hear I'm not the only one who has suffered with knee pain!!!
Maybe we should set up our own web site!
Anyway, in answer to a few of you, I guess my 6 month hesitation to see a doctor was because I guessed they would say something similar to that stated above. I agree, (and I do know about drugs, its my job), cod liver oil won't do any harm, and my dad swears by it. The jury is still out on glucosamine, the studies just aren't any good, yet, although again, some swear by it, and I accept, it probably won't do any harm. but will it do any good???

Sorry to any GPs on line, but I would strongly suggest that anyone with knee pain simply sees a GP in order to get a referral either directly to a physio, or to an orthopaedic surgeon who will almost certainly then refer you onto a physiotherapist. I was lucky, I got a friendly consultant orthopod at work to refer me to physio. The Doc diagnosed, but the physio decided on the course of treatment - and he (I believe) has cured me.

I was diagnosed with patellar tendonitis which is now called patellar tendonopathy. Basically over 10 years of dancing has caused damage, it is also called jumpers knee - ie dancers knee. I found walking up and down stairs painful, I could hear clicking, walking down stairs was particularly bad, also doing big forward and backward steps in ballroom dancing hurt.

My excercises were with the aim of increasing the muscle strength of the muscle on the inner side of the leg above the knee, can't remeber the name. The physio also taught me how to tape my knee to get the patella back in alignment in order for me to ballroom dance without aggrevating it - I didn't want to stop my ballroom dancing - my physio wanted me to. With the knee taped I had no pain, however, this couldn't really be a long term solution. The excercises were mainly knee dips, on one leg, sometime with strong elastic between me and the banister in order to create more tension, sometimes leaning against a wall either with a pillow between the knees or my back leaning against a gym ball. All rather comical, but pretty simple. As I posted before, stretching before and after was essential.

After about 8 - 12 weeks I can walk down stairs pain free, mostly up stairs is pain free. Unfortunalty nose quins is shut, so no ballroom dancing - but my physio was pleased about that!

So, all you people with knee pain, please, see someone, don't be fobbed off, and be careful using Ibuprofen, it will simply reduce pain and you may not notice that you are doing further damage. My condition was not inflammatory, it was degenerative, so anti-inflammatories (ibuprofen) will not help. Excercise to improve muscle strength, and rest to allow healing and re-growth have and will help.

Hope that helps a little.

:yeah:

My Doctor told me that she thought I had an air pocket in the joint, which was making the noise! :angry: I was not happy with that comment and insisted that she get me to someone who could carry out a 'considered' diagnosis. I was sent for an x-ray and then to the physio. Apparantly if my knee problem had continued without treatment, my patella, which was well out of allignment, could have actually come away.

So, as Ballroom Queen and David James have said, do not be fobbed off - get a proper opinion and don't do any exercises until you know what the problem is.

Good luck!


Elaine

[Ballroom queen]

:yeah:

My Doctor told me that she thought I had an air pocket in the joint, which was making the noise! :angry: I was not happy with that comment and insisted that she get me to someone who could carry out a 'considered' diagnosis. I was sent for an x-ray and then to the physio. Apparantly if my knee problem had continued without treatment, my patella, which was well out of allignment, could have actually come away.

So, as Ballroom Queen and David James have said, do not be fobbed off - get a proper opinion and don't do any exercises until you know what the problem is.

Good luck!


Elaine

So what was your excercise regimen (briefly!)?
did it work?

[ElaineB]

So what was your excercise regimen (briefly!)?
did it work?


Fairly basic - stretching my thigh muscle about three times a day and then every time before and after dancing. I am also meant to take breaks between dances :whistle: .

After stretching at home, I have to sit down, straighten out my legs and literally pick up the patella on my right leg and lift it over to the left about 20 times. Dead sexy!

It does seem to have helped, but I still have that lovely crunch noise!!


Elaine

[Donna]

I do!!! Simon won't dance with me unless there is music!! :rofl: The knee doesn't hurt though (when dancing), just makes a horrible noise!! I have to remember to stretch out my thigh muscles, which helps!

I was told by my physio/chiro to stope wearing high heels every day to work as well (OK for dancing). Apparantly they put more strain on the knee joint than on the back! :eek:




Elaine

Yeah but now they're saying high heels aren't a problem. You know you and Simon could could dance to the rhythm of your clicking knee if you don't like the music that's being played. :rofl:

[Dazzle]

At College I was always taught to "warm to stretch". NEVER stretch when you are cold, this can cause further problems as things tend to tear and snap when cold. Stretch after a short warm-up before dancing, a little aerobic activity. Then also stretch at the end while still warm.

I have had a knee problem since I was 20 and apart from the first 6 months of physio , have had no further problems with them, becuase I know what to do and what not to do now. Hopefully it doesn't show and I can still do drops and lifts (including my DJ kit!). There was no "cure" for my condition and I will always have it. Might struggle when I reach senior status? :rofl: Not there yet, despite Donna's grey hair cracks! :cheers:

[Dazzle]

Yeah but now they're saying high heels aren't a problem. You know you and Simon could could dance to the rhythm of your clicking knee if you don't like the music that's being played. :rofl:

I once read that women who wore high heels had fewer knee problems becuase their leg structure was stronger and protected them more. Before anyone suggests, I WILL NOT be testing the theory, except as usual every Sunday! :rofl: Maybe Mr McGregor can comment better on this point than I? :whistle:

[Donna]

I once read that women who wore high heels had fewer knee problems becuase their leg structure was stronger and protected them more. Before anyone suggests, I WILL NOT be testing the theory, except as usual every Sunday! :rofl: Maybe Mr McGregor can comment better on this point than I? :whistle:

Hang on a min....but didn't you once confess that you were wearing Sheenas high heel shoes around the flat for a couple of weeks in preparation for that party when you dressed up as a woman?? :D :D

[Dazzle]

Hang on a min....but didn't you once confess that you were wearing Sheenas high heel shoes around the flat for a couple of weeks in preparation for that party when you dressed up as a woman?? :D :D

Like I said,Sundays ONLY!

[Donna]

Like I said,Sundays ONLY!

Wow Dazzling legs dazzle! They're better than mine!!! :rolleyes: :(

[Pink Lady]

Wow Dazzling legs dazzle! They're better than mine!!! :rolleyes: :(

My sentiments exactly! I'm jealous!! :devil:

[Donna]

My sentiments exactly! I'm jealous!! :devil:

He had them waxed for that occasion you know! :D

[Pink Lady]

He had them waxed for that occasion you know! :D

I'm impressed! I wax my legs, but given that blokes usually have "bushier" hair on their legs - that had to have hurt! :really:

[Donna]

I'm impressed! I wax my legs, but given that blokes usually have "bushier" hair on their legs - that had to have hurt! :really:

Huh! You think that's bad hmmm? Ever seen a man get his bushy back waxed?? Well have ya? I HAVE! :D Whilst he had tears strolling down his face in agony, I had tears strolling down mine through laughing!!! :rofl:

[Pink Lady]

Huh! You think that's bad hmmm? Ever seen a man get his bushy back waxed?? Well have ya? I HAVE! :D Whilst he had tears strolling down his face in agony, I had tears strolling down mine through laughing!!! :rofl:

Actually - yes! I was the one doing the waxing as well. Or administering the torture - depending on how you look at it. (That was fun! :devil: :nice: )

[Donna]

Actually - yes! I was the one doing the waxing as well. Or administering the torture - depending on how you look at it. (That was fun! :devil: :nice: )

Wouldn't mind giving it a whirl myself...that is er, ME waxing HIS back. :)

[TiggsTours]

Well, I was dancing last night, having a fab dance as it happens, and then all of a sudden, my right calf muscle goes crack so loudly I actually heard it above the music! Lovely. :tears:

[Donna]

Well, I was dancing last night, having a fab dance as it happens, and then all of a sudden, my right calf muscle goes crack so loudly I actually heard it above the music! Lovely. :tears:

Thanks TiggsTours....I think my stomach just flipped 100 times in two seconds flat. :sick:


Try Ibuprofen gel it's brilliant!!!