Exercises to improve ‘knee strength’?

Inline skating period. Not only does it stengthen legs, knees and ankles, it is also very similar to skiing in terms of balance, movement and motion. It will better prepare you than any other form of exercise. Do wear pads and helmet.

Trencher

Dave Mac wrote:Bandit wrote

I'm not at all certain that it's possible to strengthen ligaments, only the muscles.

Yup, that's how I see it too.

Tis true I'm afraid.

You can help if it's your mcl though - I don't know which ligament you've injured but your mcl is very close to the surface. if you massage at the point of pain you can help the scar tissue to heal, apparently it's like chewing gum and can be moulded. I'm no doctor though so I'd see a physio first if I were you.

I'll also be taking trencher's skating advice once I'm up to scratch. My exercises at the moment are building me up to sideways movements. it's such a long process :roll:

Hi and thanks to everyone for your replies which are really helpful. By inline skating, do you mean rollerblading and if so, will ice skating do the same job as I’m sure the technique is very similar? I have a pair of figure skates (which I am competent on as I did a lot of figure skating when I was younger) and an ice rink 5 minutes away from where I live. I don’t have rollerblades, although I can easily invest in some if people think this would be better?
Caron-a, if you could send me your list of exercises that would be great (but don’t go to any trouble.) Hope your recovery is going well. )
With regard to seeing a physio, as you say, it may be a good idea. I don’t think I’ve done anything too serious (though who am I to tell?) but figure that the prevention rather than cure option is best.
Thanks again
Lynn

I do all my gym work on a bosu which is a half ball with a plastic platform...helps all the core muscles as well as develops good reaction times..I finish with doing it on one foot at a time for about 1 minute per leg..

I've found something on general ski exercises on the net you might find useful to download.

www.shs.eriding.net/pages/news/ski/ski_exercises.pdf

Another possibility is to look into Pilates. My partner is a Master Instructor in Body Control Pilates and she usually gives instruction to several of her clients specifically for skiing before they go on their ski hols. This involves concentrating on their core stability first and then building on other areas that need strengthening/re-aligning so to avoid injury on the slopes from using muscles etc that may only get used once a year.

Hope this helps.

Glyn

Many 2 plank skiers with knee trouble have taken up MONO skiing as the lateral pressures are shared as the knees are always together.
It really does work for me.

http://monoski.net 8)


Rob

All the advice you received is great but don't forget that you have a medical condition. A proper orthopedist should refer you (with proper instructions) to a good physio and with him you can set up the right exercise plan. The best exercises can do more harm than good if they are not properly done.
Also, don't forget medications. I have had serious ligament and tendon problems at the elbow and the Achilles tendon. The latter was severed and since I had no access to medical facilities, I fixed it myself: as a result,I have had excruciating pain and found it difficult to walk, forget about running. I started taking Glucosamine/Chondroitin -1000 mg- daily and after a month or so I was so much better. I keep taking it but now I walk without any problem and I can even run. Glucosamine works by -as I understand it- reconstructing the tissue of which tendons and ligaments are made. Personally I don't believe much in food supplements and I never take them.
But my doctor insisted and finally I started taking glucosamine. The results have been amazing. I am not 100% fit: probably will never be again, but for me it is a new life.
Talk to your Gp and give it a try. You will need at least a month to realize how much better you are. And check the various brands: some are cheaper but the composition is very weak.
For your info I work in merchant banking and have no interest whatsoever with the medical or pharmaceutical industry.
Good luck

I've recently started mountaion biking again.. :)

which i have found to really helpS..

Also helps with core strength.. but mainly legs, etc..