Re: Re: knees

["Suzanne Griffin Barnes" <enduroqn@willapabay.org>]

Barb,
Alas, such a small question but what a long response!  Riding is an
isometric exercise in that the muscles involved are working  with no change
in length (unlike a bicep curl) It primarily works the adductors (inner
thigh muscles) which when tight, pulls the legs apart (bow legs).  When this
happens there is an imbalance if other muscles are not addressed or if
stretching the adductors and other tight muscles is not applied.  This
imbalance really affects the joint(s) in questions, ie the knee and
sometimes the ankle and hip.  To help with this, you really need to access
your riding balance.  If you are riding in balance, then address the muscle
that helps to conterbalance the adductors role in bowing the legs.  This
muscle helps to pull the knee cap (patella) inward, its called the vastus
medialis or in physical therapy terms, the VMO.  Good exercises to
strengthen this muscle which acts only in the last few degrees of extension
(just before the knee is straight...like kicking a ball...which is why
cyclists and soccer players have good looking ones!) ARE:  leg extensions,
biking, and stair climbing to name a few.  BUT you have to address both the
weak muscles (strengthen) and the tight muscles (stetch) in order to help
your problem.  Just like you would your horse if it had a problem, I would
HIGHLY recommend a session in massage therapy or rolfing AND/or a talk with
a fitness specialist (personal trainer, pt, ot...etc)
Good luck!  Feel free to email me personally for more information!
Susie Griffin Barnes
Fitness Educator, Licensed Massage Practitioner


-----Original Message-----
From: MCShasa <MCShasa@email.msn.com>
To: ridecamp@endurance.net <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Date: Saturday, April 17, 1999 9:47 PM
Subject: RC: Re: knees


>A few exercises. Sorry, I don't know any for knees. I can straighten
>> a new born foal with knock-knees, but don't know anything for an adult.
>
>OK, does anyone know any knee exercises?  Both of my knees stiffen up when
>riding..to the point where I can't continue.  I have to get off and walk.
>They loosen up in just a few minutes and there's no residual pain at all.
>It's worse on a slow ride.  The movement at the faster gaits seems to
>postpone the agony.  At a walk, they start to throb after about 20 minutes.
>At a trot, it doesn't start until about an hour and a half.  And the pain
>increases until I get off.  It's very annoying and I worry about doing
>damage to my joints.  I'd like to still be riding distance 10 years from
>now.
>
>Barb
>
>
>
>
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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.    
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/RideCamp   
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=