The knee is the most commonly injured joint and this is especially true in sports. But, unless there’s been an injury directly to the knee, for example, like a torn ACL caused by impact or an accident, it’s unusual that a knee problem originates in the knee.
The way a person moves or doesn’t move can strain their knee. Problems with overall movement organization can leave them unable to deal with an urgent situation—like what happens in sports or a sudden loss of balance.
With people who have knee problems frequently, it’s helpful to trace the history that led up to their injury. Two things are taken into consideration: the circumstances and how a person is organized. By this I mean, whether a person natually stands with more weight on one leg than the other, leans to one side, or whether their pelvis is slightly tilted, etc.
Often, when a person comes to me, I can see if they’re putting more weight on one leg. And from their history, and observing their spine, ribcage, hips, lower legs, and feet, I can get a sense of what has led to them being more vulnerable to the kind of injury they experienced.
Here’s an example of how this might play out:
Let’s say a person favors one leg because of a past injury that happened many years ago. Compensation patterns have now set in and feel “normal.” But if one leg is the stable one, and less weight is on the leg with the past injury, then if something happens where the person has to respond quickly, like if a little child runs into them, the person has less options to respond.
Ideally, the person would be able to move equally easily in all directions: to the left, right, forward and backwards. But if one leg is less stable, then the person has less options and if the child hits them from the wrong side, the person will lose his balance and possibly twist or strain one knee.
During the first 72 hours, I recommend reducing the swelling with ice, resting, elevating and compressing the injured knee. (Of course, seek the advice of your health care professional if you think you might be seriously hurt.)
After the first 2-three weeks after the injury, Feldenkrais can be used to help recover from the injury and help imrove a person’s overall functioning so that they have more balanced distribution of weight and can prevent another injury.
In Feldenkrais we work with a person’s entire body.
You aren’t a bunch of parts and pieces! There is a connection between every part of you. If someone is recovering from or has had a knee injury (or any injury for that matter), we would bring their head, neck, spine, hip joints and feet into the picture as well.
You want to have knees that can respond to whatever movement you need or want to make. Your knees should be ready for action. Ideally your knees can move freely easily in all directions — sideways, forward, and backwards. As you age, it’s common to lose the abilty to move freely, and Feldenkrais can restore that freedom and ease of movement and function.
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