Big quads=less sore knees??

tbaymusicman

Guys someone told me(my doc)if i build my quads more im likely to have less knee and back pain while running is there truth in this please:D

MrCreosote

Sometimes. Depends what's causing the pain really.

Gosh, what a comfortable fence to sit on this is!

tbaymusicman

Yes fence indeed:( well i like running but it really hurts my back and most time's my knee's

Sosa

I had tendonitis in both knees 6 years ago and my physio and doctors at the time all preached to me that if i build up my quads it would eventually solve the problem as stronger quads would hold the knee cap in place better,thus stop straining the patella tendon ( just below knee cap )

So,yes it is true ( in my experience )

RacoonQueen

Back pain is often a result of weak hamstrings and/or glutes. There could be a quad/hamstring imbalance, see a physio/personal trainer/sports therapist who can test your muscle strength and design a programme to suit you.

MrCreosote

I'll come down from the fence then.

Good advice from the two other posts. Some knee pain might improve with quad strengthening, or strengthening part of the quad (usually the inner head), but you'd need to get the balance right with the hamstrings and glutes as well. Some knee pain like ITS on the outside of the knee probably doesn't gain much from strengthening quads. Or if it's a ligament/meniscus injury, quad and hamstring strength will help with the overall stability of the knee.

I'd definitely see a sports physio- they can spend a decent amount of time checking out the problem and prevent it getting worse. If you enjoy the running the worst thing usually is to try to push through the pain.

tbaymusicman

Its weird i play loads of squash but its running makes me hurt:(

mattym

I'm seeing an osteopath at the moment after failed surgery. 2 weeks in and no improvement as yet but he says that its all about the muscle groups around the knee being in balance. I have bigger than average quads, but he says they are very tight. He knows what he's talking about so i'll stick with him and hopefully be back running soon. Go get it seen to...

tunney

It's not quadS, it's just the one VMO

maria76

I was suffering with my knee for quite a while and like that was told to build up my quads to releive the pain. After many weeks of physio, it took an injection to releive the pain. Im now back at square one again and it turns out that i have osteochondritis and focal thinning of the articular cartilige. My physio has said that if I swim and cylce for a few weeks that i will be ok but it doesnt seem to be working. Pain comes and goes but when its there, its really bad. I have seen on websites that surgery is the only option for these conditions.

I think my physio was treating me for something entirely different and althou he said to build up the quads, it was only after an MRI that he back tracked slightly.

If anyone else has had these ailments and can advise what to do, please share!!!:rolleyes:

RJC

I think it is totally different for everybody. I had patellar tendinitis but I have massive quads (not from anything special, just always like that) and my quads are not symmetrical. The inner ones are much bigger than normal.

My own two cents worth is that you have to allow your body time to adapt to the physiological changes required with running. Time and a sensible running build up solved my problems (and a very 'sensible' physio).

As I said at the start. Everybody is different and picking your physio is the hardest part of the equation.