sore knee question

[igsoy]

Have any of you runners or fitness buffs ever had knee pain above your kneecap? Mine is mild but lingering since I started this pretty intense bootcamp class after being sedentary for several years and weighing about 25 lbs too much.

From looking around, it sounds like the only thing that affects that spot might be quad tendonitis, which doesn't really seem to have any remedy other than rest and gentle quad strengthening exercises. They don't seem to recommend any knee braces or straps or anything for this particular spot like they do for the below knee or side knee pain. I was just researching the brace idea for support to keep it from getting any worse, since I don't really want to stop this class yet, and the pain is not severe at all, just a dull soreness as I do certain movements.

Anyway, does anyone have any tips for dealing with this? I was never an athlete, and trying to do this stuff now that I am almost 40 is a real wakeup call that I'm not a kid anymore.

[AzDreamer]

I had sore knees for years, then someone told me that strengthening your quads helps this problem. After learning a couple exercises my sore knees are back to normal.

[Pete]

Yoga

[lazygood4nothinbum]

if it is amazingly painful it sounds like Jumpers knee which i got about a year or two ago. lasted for a few months. didn't even show up on an x-ray so probably was just a very minor tear in the tendon which attaches to the knee cap. stretching exercises helped.

[Nords]

Quote:

Originally Posted by igsoy Have any of you runners or fitness buffs ever had knee pain above your kneecap? Mine is mild but lingering since I started this pretty intense bootcamp class... Anyway, does anyone have any tips for dealing with this? I was never an athlete, and trying to do this stuff now that I am almost 40 is a real wakeup call that I'm not a kid anymore.

With apologies to Groucho Marx,
"Doctor, it hurts when I do this."
"Well, don't do that anymore!"

If you don't push the workouts any harder on that part of your body, then the condition will gradually heal itself. Give it a month, but if it gets worse then you're going to have to stop whatever leg exercises are hurting it. Lunges & squats will help strengthen the quads but they won't heal the inflamed tendons.

The only thing for inflamed tendons is rest, ice, and 800 mg of ibuprofen 3x/day...

[Alan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by igsoy Have any of you runners or fitness buffs ever had knee pain above your kneecap? Mine is mild but lingering since I started this pretty intense bootcamp class after being sedentary for several years and weighing about 25 lbs too much.

I think you pretty well have diagnosed yourself. As I have grown older and had joint pains I have found that rest is the best cure and then switch to different or less rigorous exercise. Doesn't always work of course, but you've got to give it a chance.

[igsoy]

Hey everybody, thanks for the replies. I just sprained my ankle playing softball, so now the knee is not bothering me so much anymore.