So after posting on here and getting input, i backed off a lot (nearly completely, have not biked, done minimal slow running on dreadmill, some elliptical and weights - oh, and swimming).
My assumption was (as was my physio’s) that swimming was the least likely to aggravate.
I actaully now think that this is not true. Seems that i can do weights (which includes 45 degree leg press), elliptical trainer and treadmill running and knees can get perfect, well happened for a day or two anyway. But then today, crappy again. Well, I swam yesterday and have noted before that my knees can be more irritated after swimming. So, I now think that the action of bending the kness to push off the wall is irritating them Seems to make sense when I think about it. Anyone else ever noticed this?
I’m not the expert, so hopefully rroof will be able to chime in, but I experienced the same thing. Cycling was actually fine for my patellar tendinitis, but swimming really irritated it. I also think it was because of the pushing off the wall thing, maybe because of the density of the water? My knees didn’t get irritated as much if I was very careful with my leg extension/push off the wall (paying attention to form and proper alignment), and didn’t push off as hard as normal.
Both of my knees are what some call loose joints from all the stretching in high school for hurdling. Generally cycling and running don’t bother them, if I stay within a certain amount of volume and intensity in both (although right one also has the pain from a ski crash that becomes painful easily), but hard swim kick sets and my knees always ache, I think because I end up literally hyperextending.
Hmmm … swimming should most certainly be a lot easier on the patellar tendon than cycling. You must push off the wall HARD! Personally, I have about as weak a kick as you can possibly have though and still mosey down the lane.
You sure about the diagnosis of patellar tendonitis?
Pretty sure about the diagnosis. Left Patellar actually made me go OW! when Sports med dr. pressed on it. Also, symptoms are soreness under kneecaps (when very worst - kneecaps were actaully sore,as in, weairng jeans irritated knee caps, but this has gotten better) Also, get periodic pains in knees on stairs occasionally, especially first step. I have not bike for about 2 weeks. Slow runing does seem to be ok.
I’ve been using a pullbouy so it is not the kicking.I don’t do flip turns. But I do push off with my legs,fairly hard I guess.
I had nearly 12 months of a combination of pataellar tendinitis and fat pad injury of the right knee which caused me a lot of pain and resulted in a few cortisone injections before my 70.3 and IM races. I noticed that kicking off the wall, even gently and also kicking, even gently, aggravated my injuries so i swam almost exclusively with a pull buoy and barely touched the walls for turn arounds. Best to avoid anything that annoys the injury if you can, mine took months to get better, probably because i was paranoid about resting too much and didn’t want it to interfere with my races.
Yes, I am hoping to avoid months of knee pain. I have not swam for nearly a week now and definately notice the improvement in my knees. So, slow running is ok. Elliptical and weights ok. Pushing off of walls is a NO-NO right now. Planning to do 25m drills at the pool until my knees are much improved.
Seems to make sense when I think about it. Anyone else ever noticed this?