Knee Pain

[pooky1976]

I have a question. I am not sure what this pain is from, but I am having knee pain. Well...it is not actually my knee, but rather the very upper part of my shin where my shin meets my lower knee. I think it is where the ligament is attached to the shin. They only hurt when I walk up stairs and when I touch them...like a bruise.

I have been running on a treadmill for the last couple of months and I have begun to move away from the treadmill and moved to the elipitical machine. That is a little easier on my knee, but I don't get as good of a workout that I get with the treadmill. When I don't use the tradmill for a few days, the pain subsides so I can pretty much link the treadmill to the knee pain. I am overweight (263lbs. but I have lost 7lbs.) and I can imagine the pounding on my knees.

Does anyone know what exactly this pain is and what would happen if I continue to use the tradmill and it continues? What type of damage can I cause if I continue? Is there a way to treat this? Ice? Rest? Different Machine?

[bryanc]

Sounds like patellar tendinopathy to me (or jumper's knee--though runners get it too). Do you get pain going _down_ stairs as well?

You might have to modify your activities a bit depending on your pain. You can still use the treadmill, provided your pain doesn't get worse while you're on it (e.g. if you're used to running for 30 minutes and your pain kicks in around 20 minutes, you will need to modify your activity to run for only 20 minutes). Stretch, ice and strengthen. You can also try the drop-squat program that is kicking around here somewhere...

[Alcoholday]

possible shin splints?

[bryanc]

Well, from the description, I wouldn't guess shin splints. Shin splint pain isn't usually close to the tibial plateau and definitely not into the knee. Also, one of the tell-tale signs of patellar tendinopathy is pain during stair climbing. However, sometimes, it's not patellar tendinopathy--sometimes it's patellofemoral syndrome. But, the fact that pooky seems to get a "bruise-like" pain on the tendon (not the ligament) between the shin and the kneecap would suggest PT, not PFPS. I do hope you meant tendon and not ligament, pooky.

[pooky1976]

yes I meant tendon...sorry. Where can i get the drop squat workout? Thank you for your help.

[pooky1976]

found th edrop squat routine. THX!

[pooky1976]

Can I still run on the treadmill while I do the drop squat routine? Should I switch to another machine until I finish my routine?

[Buccaneer]

I happen to have the same pain you are describing pooky.
Only mine came last night as I was doing squats. I am curious to what the hell it is though.
I recently had been jogging on the treadmill as I too suffer from shin splints and was slowly building up my running time so I doubt it is a shin splint. Last last week I was on vacation and didn't get in any cardio and only 2 lifting sessions.

Any more input guys?

pooky, any progress?

Jason