Research Corner - Q&A Knee Tendonitis for Ex-Footballer by Noah Hittner | Date Released : 12 Jul 2002 0 comments Print Close Question: I am a 22-year-old ex-college football player. I have tendonitis in my right knee and am unable to train like I used to in order to develop leg growth. I have seen my leg development suffer because of the pain in exercises like squats and lunges. I seem to do the same exercises every time I enter the gym. They include leg presses, quad extensions and both standing and prone leg curls. I feel like I am not doing enough, nor am I shocking my muscles into growth. I wonder if incorporating Plyo's into my routine would increase production and development. Any suggestions? Answer There are a few things we should discuss prior to simply dishing out any exercises. Firstly, you are experiencing pain in the right knee, which you have attributed to tendonitis. My first suggestion is this: If this is a self diagnosis, I would seek the opinion of a medical professional ASAP and preferably one with a sports injury background. Moving on, if you are truly experiencing tendonitis, then there are several overlying issues that should be investigated prior to you continuing with you usual "hypertrophic" training regimen. Tendonitis may be defined simply as inflammation of a tendon. From a kinetic chain standpoint, let's look at what may have caused this inflammation and irritation. Your body works in three planes of motion at all times (sagittal, frontal, transverse), especially during such dynamic movements as are required by football athletes. Traditional training methods still currently used for sports such as football often employ training methods that only adhere to the sagittal plane (i.e., leg presses, squats, leg extentions, leg curls, presses, etc). The problem with this type of training is that it does not teach the body to work in the other two planes and almost "locks" one into the robotic sagittal plane! Studies have shown that a vast majority of the current knee traumas are due to a NON-CONTACT injury, where the athlete was trying to decelerate, or land, in the transverse plane. One must understand that the body's muscles work in synergies not in isolation. The muscle imbalances that can develop due to chronic isolationist sagittal plane training methods may very well be the underlying cause of such knee problems as tendonitis. These muscular imbalances may well lead to faulty movement patterns, causing micro-trauma at the problem joint and over time exposing themselves as injury and pain (tendonitis). So, what do you do? To prevent causing any further irritation to the injured joint, I would definitely stay away from plyometrics right now, as power training may simply reinforce the faulty movement patterns that have caused your problem in the first place. I would begin with a corrective flexibility protocol, along with a core/neuromuscular (balance) training program that would appropriately progress you from stability-based exercise back up to strength and hypertrophic exercises. To do this, I would suggest once again that you seek the opinion of a medical professional. Next, if possible, find a fitness/performance professional who is familiar with integrated training techniques and kinetic chain concepts. Take time to read Mike Clark’s PTontheNET.com article series, “Essentials of Integrated Training.” It is very difficult to give out specific exercises without having done an integrated kinetic chain assessment, but a great place to start is with your flexibility. Here are a few stretches to work on. Good luck, and remember, function first, aesthetics later! KNEELING HIP FLEXOR STRETCH: Kneel on one leg, maintain erect posture, perform an abdominal draw-in, squeeze the glute of the leg being kneeled on and perform a posterior tilt or "tuck" of the pelvis. Hold for 20 to 30 seconds and then repeat two to four times per leg. STANDING GASTROC/SOLEUS STRETCH (calves): With erect posture, stand in a staggered stance with hands on wall/stretch bar, place a ramp/block of some sort under the forefoot of you back leg, maintain knee over 2nd or 3rd toe, perform an abdominal draw-in and lean forward from the back ankle until you feel you first point of resistance/stretch, stop and hold for 20 to 30 seconds and repeat two to four times per leg. SIDE LUNGING ADDUCTOR STRETCH (inner-thigh): Stand slightly wider than shoulder width, toes pointed straight as if on skis, to stretch the right side, squeeze the right glute, lunge left until a first point of resistance is felt in the right adductor complex, hold for 20 to 30 seconds and repeat two to four times per leg. These and other stretches can be found in the PTontheNET.com Exercise & Flexibility Library. Back to top About the author: Noah Hittner In his time in the health and fitness industry, Noah Hittner worked with a wide range of clientele—from the high school athlete to the senior citizen. This experience, in great part, still inspires his work today. Now, years past his days as a fitness professional, Noah has turned his focus to writing and music. His books and songs explore the process of human consciousness and the quest for personal freedom. Noah now approaches his work, as well as his life, with self-honesty as his first intention and his top priority. It is with this intention in mind that he aims to connect with the lives of as many people as possible in an inspiring and empowering way. Noah's books include The Modern-Day Buddha, Beyond Victim and Villain, and Something to Give Back. Full Author Details Related content Content from Noah Hittner There is no related content. 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