Anyone gotten knee pain from the pool? I thought it was from running, but after not running for five weeks but continuing the swim, my knee pain is exactly the same on the top inner part of the knee behind the knee cap, and always worse the afternoon after swimming. I consciously try not to push off very hard, but in the middle of sets when I’m getting dropped I’m sure I push harder than intended.
Not sure how to fix it. I did about 8 months of PT last fall and through the spring but it never completely went away until getting a cortisone injection, and then of course that wore off and right back to square one.
If I don’t swim, I really, really suck at swimming. If I do swim, I have a sore knee constantly and don’t ride or run as much as I otherwise would. Choices, choices…
If I’m heavy in biking and running then I notice knee pain on my left knee when pushing off the wall during flip turns. I get lazy and twisty knee during the push off. When I noticed it, I try to stay on my back through the push off then twist around, push straight off side ways without twisting onto my belly or push more with right foot. It tends to go away on its own.
4 out of 5 of my last knee issues were due to coming out of alignment. Last one hurt swimming, but as soon as I hear that pop, it all goes away. Sometimes I can get the Chrio to do it, but sometimes it just pops back on its own. And I have had it last for months before, thinking it was something else. Of course it is a strained ligament, or muscle, but it is caused by the knee being out of joint, and not the other way around.
Anyway something to think about when you seem to have a chronic problem that just keeps niggling at you.
It maybe the leg action as you come over before the push of. Some people really whip over and the sudden stop, twist and push is foreign to most movements the knee is built for. (opinion only)
are you sure it’s from the push off, or could kicking be irritating it?
while sucky, you could swim on a tether and see if it is the turns.
Another option is to swim and only do single lengths of the pool - so fast 25s or 50s depending on what format you’re swimming in. Cuts # of push-offs in half, and you can make the pushes you do really soft.
I’m sorry you’re injured and that it’s not resolving. Are your quads and hips really tight? that comes to mind too
No, swimming 25s in a 25 yd/m pool or doing 50s in a 50 yd/m pool does not cut down on the number of push-offs, b/c you are still pushing off to start every single length. OTOH, this strategy would cut flip turns to zero but the OP doesn’t even say whether he/she flips or not. Maybe flip turns were what you were thinking of???
are you sure it’s from the push off, or could kicking be irritating it?
while sucky, you could swim on a tether and see if it is the turns.
Another option is to swim and only do single lengths of the pool - so fast 25s or 50s depending on what format you’re swimming in. Cuts # of push-offs in half, and you can make the pushes you do really soft.
I’m sorry you’re injured and that it’s not resolving. Are your quads and hips really tight? that comes to mind too
No, swimming 25s in a 25 yd/m pool or doing 50s in a 50 yd/m pool does not cut down on the number of push-offs, b/c you are still pushing off to start every single length. OTOH, this strategy would cut flip turns to zero but the OP doesn’t even say whether he/she flips or not. Maybe flip turns were what you were thinking of???
Anyone gotten knee pain from the pool? I thought it was from running, but after not running for five weeks but continuing the swim, my knee pain is exactly the same on the top inner part of the knee behind the knee cap, and always worse the afternoon after swimming. I consciously try not to push off very hard, but in the middle of sets when I’m getting dropped I’m sure I push harder than intended.
Not sure how to fix it. I did about 8 months of PT last fall and through the spring but it never completely went away until getting a cortisone injection, and then of course that wore off and right back to square one.
If I don’t swim, I really, really suck at swimming. If I do swim, I have a sore knee constantly and don’t ride or run as much as I otherwise would. Choices, choices…
I had been dealing with that issue for months/years (in my opinion swimming just irritates the knee). After going to PT, taking time off of running and seeing a couple of chiropractors, I lucked up and found a sports chiro. He dealt with my foot strike/alignment and loosening up my hips and he had me follow the kneesovertoesguy on YouTube. I did a lot of the bodyweight exercises this guys does (squats with heel raised, tibialis raises, ATG split squats, backwards walking) and I went from not being able to push off at all in the pool and hobbling up & down stairs to pain free in about a month. It has saved my season, good luck.
Thanks for the responses. I think there are some good tidbits to consider. I forgot to mention I also have issues with my big right toe on that same troublesome knee side, which also seems to be exacerbated after pushing. And when I try to push off without engaging my big toe, maybe it torques more?
I only swim when with a masters group. I do spin turns rather than flip turns, and since I’m always circle swimming and always spinning to the left, I wonder if there may be some twisting as I push off. Since I’m usually last in line, I think I’ll try experimenting with either straight into the wall and back out, or spinning the other way. I have tried pushing off with more with the other leg but too much of that led me to notice a similar (though far less severe) issue in my left knee.
I don’t think it’s due to kicking, but I have noticed in the past I felt it when trying breastroke (which I only tried a few times and no longer try) and dolphin kicking off the wall, which I don’t do. But I’m a fairly constant kicker so I will try experimenting with a bit more pull buoy and see if I can slow the kick frequency and not sink and try to determine if there’s a difference.
I do a good bit of hip flexor, psoas, and upper thigh stretches, foam rolling, hip hook, and lacrosse ball rolling and have for a while, so I don’t think I’m overly tight in any of those areas but will keep up that work. I have seen the knee over toes guy recommended before, so will look into that, too.