Noises in my Knee

[Yeti]

Within the last month, my right knee has started cracking and popping – quite loudly – whenever I throw either a front or roundhouse kick. Generally, these cracks do not hurt (they just sound like they do), but occasionally I do feel a slight bit of pain and I end up a little stiff and sore when I’m done working out. Ironically, this is happening to my non-surgically repaired knee…go figure.

Has anyone had a similar problem? This really just started happening within the last month or so. How’d you deal with it? This is getting me nervous.

Taekwon!

[Lisa]

Sounds like the tendons or ligaments are snapping. I know this happened to my daughter but it was due to her growing spurts where the bone was growing faster then the ligaments and muscles could keep up. I see from your profile that this is probably not your problem. :)

I would see a doctor about it or physio and get some stretches to do to help stretch those muscles better. Also it will rule out any other problem that might not be apparent at this time. When it comes to your knees, they need to be cared for and not ignored.

Hope this helps. :)

[Shirt Ripper]

Agreed.

Most people I know that have or have had noises in the knees eventually have some issue. Prevention is easier, cheaper and more effective than treatment.

I think I am going to quote myself on that last statement...good stuff.

[Yeti]

Sounds like the tendons or ligaments are snapping. I know this happened to my daughter but it was due to her growing spurts where the bone was growing faster then the ligaments and muscles could keep up. I see from your profile that this is probably not your problem. :)
Hey…I could be experiencing a growth spurt at 35. LOL!

[Gemini]

That's happened to me from time to time. It goes away after a few weeks, but there was no pain whatsoever involved. I'm not one to display common sense, so don't do what I do. If you're concerned, see a doc.

Look at the bright side, a popping in the knee is better than voices in your head. :uhyeah:

[FearlessFreep]

Look at the bright side, a popping in the knee is better than voices in your head.

Depends...what is the popping telling you to do?

[Lisa]

Hey…I could be experiencing a growth spurt at 35. LOL!

Horizontally doesn't count! :p

[jdinca]

Lateral aspect? It most likely an inflamed tendon. Don't take it too lightly, you don't want it to become a chronic condition like it is in my knee. A good sports massage therapist can do wonders for it.

[Yeti]

Sounds like I should shut things down until I get it looked at. Of couse that also means that my horizontal growth will likely continue until I do!

Thanks to all for your input. I was hoping to write it off as something meaningless, but you're all right - it's better to get it looked at. Oddly enough, if I came across this post written by someone else asking the question I asked, my response would have been "Don't fool with your knees. Get it looked at." Guess sometimes you can't see the forrest through the trees.

[Zepp]

An inflamed tendon is exactly what I thinking. Taking it easy for a while is a good idea. Also, after you do workout, you may want to try icing your knee down afterwards, and possibly taking a mild anti-inflammatory (aspirin, ibuprofen, etc.). I have a somewhat chronic problem with inflammation in my knees, but doing knee strengthening exercises helps keep it to a minimum.

[karatekid1975]

I've had/am having knee issues as well. I hurt my right knee years ago. Now I hurt my left. I'm doing the same things that I did with my right R.I.C.E. After a while, a hot bath (not shower) helps (daily to soak the sore limb). Then after a few weeks, start to strengthen it. I also wear a brace during training, just in case. But if it gets to worrysome, see a doc (I've been lucky. I took a little break from training, and it's getting better with the above treatment).

[Zepp]

I used to wear a a prescribed knee-brace, but it kind of wore out after a couple years. Now if I wear it, it tends to slip around and hinder my knee. But I've mostly been able to keep my knee problems under control since then, so I've been ok without it.

[FearlessFreep]

I've been taking a suppliment to improve my joints as a preventitive measure; Glucosamine, Chondroitin, and MSM. Been taking it for awhile and it's helped my joints not get sore, especially my knees

[Zepp]

Hey Yeti, for all of our benefit, why don't you come back to this thread in a couple of weeks and tell us how your knee is doing? I think a few of us would like to know just what's wrong with it, and what helps it.

[Yeti]

Hey Yeti, for all of our benefit, why don't you come back to this thread in a couple of weeks and tell us how your knee is doing? I think a few of us would like to know just what's wrong with it, and what helps it.
Will Do.
Surprisingly, with a few day's rest, the frequency of the popping is greatly reduced. I'll keep you posted.

[Yeti]

So it's been a week with no training (really). Aside from the shakes from stopping cold turkey, my knee is actually a lot better. Last night I threw a a series of 10 roundhouse kicks very slowly and got nothing. This is the technique where I first noticed the popping. I'm taking this as a good sign. Maybe another week?....maybe not!

[Shodan]

I'd still get it checked if I were you.......could be meniscus tear or roughed up (underside of) patella. I blew out my knee in the middle of my 2nd brown test in 1995.......knees making noise are nothing to mess with. Mine required surgery and a year of rehab. Keep us posted and I hope it is all better soon.

[hong kong fooey]

well my girlfriend twisted her knee in class awhile ago and she started to but TIGER BALM on her knee and it seemed to help but she was still having knee problems so she went to GNC and bought some herbal Pills and they work great. I woulden't worry about it to much unless it really starts to hurt just my two sence

[Mr.Rooster]

Sure, blame it on knee pops. If a dog were around you'd blame it right?
I suggest no beans before training time.

[Shirt Ripper]

Sure, blame it on knee pops. If a dog were around you'd blame it right?
I suggest no beans before training time.

Nice.

I'd make an effort to take care of it...regardless of whether you think it is "better" or not. Ice, proper rest, perhaps a supplement.

[Yeti]

Sure, blame it on knee pops. If a dog were around you'd blame it right?
I suggest no beans before training time.
Hey, a guy's gotta get his protein somewhere! :wink1:

[tkd_jen]

Yeti,

What did you have done on your other knee? How long ago? I ask because I have kinda the same thing. I had a right acl reconstruction & medial meniscus repair in 2002. The meniscus repair didn't hold and just had meniscus removed December 2005. My surgeon said even in properly rehabed knees we still sometimes unknowingly compensate by putting more stress on the other knee. My instructor notices this especially at the end of a training session. I don't chamber my surgically repaired knee as well, and I spin differently one way from the other. So this added stress = knee problems. I do extra quad/ham strengthening and supplement with glucosamine and chondroitin, but I still have problems with certain kicks.

[Yeti]

Yeti,

What did you have done on your other knee? How long ago? I ask because I have kinda the same thing. I had a right acl reconstruction & medial meniscus repair in 2002. The meniscus repair didn't hold and just had meniscus removed December 2005. My surgeon said even in properly rehabed knees we still sometimes unknowingly compensate by putting more stress on the other knee. My instructor notices this especially at the end of a training session. I don't chamber my surgically repaired knee as well, and I spin differently one way from the other. So this added stress = knee problems. I do extra quad/ham strengthening and supplement with glucosamine and chondroitin, but I still have problems with certain kicks.
TKD Jen,
I had some cartilage removed from my left knee (medial meniscus) about 15 years ago. Since the surgery, I have had relatively little problems with that knee. It does swell on me from time to time, and it does give me some pain – especially if I haven’t worked out for a while, but all in all, it’s been pretty good. It’s only recently that I’ve had the “issue” with my right knee (pain/burning in the back center and the noises I’ve described). To be honest I have wondered the same thing – have all the years of over-compensating for my left knee caught up with me?...I guess we’ll see. I plan to go to the doctor soon to have a look! I’ll keep you posted. Good luck with your rehab as you train.

[Yeti]

Interestingly enough, it seems I have an inflamed Iliotibial Band in my right knee. I'm coming off of a pretty severe hamstring pull in my right leg – something I did back in November – and apparently my overcompensation for this is what has caused by IB to flare up. I’ve got some stretching and strengthening excercises to do so hopefully that will work out. Crazy…

[stingg]

Sorry to revive an old topic, but I also have knee problems. I have misaligned patellas that put me in physical therapy three years ago, and RA, which occasionally limits my ability to do breaking. I was wondering what knee strengthening exercises you guys use? I'm still doing some of the ones from PT (not all, as they reuire equipment I don't have), and someone else recommended balance poses from yoga...
Thanks!

[matt.m]

I wear leg braces all day, training or not. A pic of the knee brace I have to wear.http://www.breg.com/products/bracing/functional_bracing/lower_extremity_knee/x2k_ACL/default.html

A few training ideas for knee problems I have found to help immensely are a few of the following: Do a lot of hip and hamstring flexibility, also do a lot of kicking reps. For round kick and side kick I predominately do front leg. The more you try and tone the areas of the quads, hamstrings, abductors and adductors the better off you will be.

Do not do weight training, this will only make things worse.

[KrisInTx]

I've been having similar problems...started with popping in the knees (no pain, just noise) then it evolved into pain and swelling. I saw my ortho and he stated patella no tracking correctly. Then was told to do pt for strengthening the quads and such. Not much improvment. Now going to have lateral release on right knee. I decided to go ahead and test for my blue belt before I have the surgery. So glad I did! I passed and actually did better than I expected! Although, while sparring during the test, I felt a pop in my left knee (my "good" knee) and didn't have much pain but it didn't feel quite right. This morning having alot of swelling as well as some pain and stiffness. I think I'll be seeing the ortho this pm! Please don't anyone take your knees for granted. If there's noise or pain, get it checked anyway! Nip it in the bud! Just my two cents!