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Original poster

knees hurt during lunges - doing wrong?

6 replies

bluepanda · 11/02/2011 22:34

I'm having a bit of a health kick with two months of mat leave til I go back to work (too tight to buy new work clothes Grin) It feels great to be getting back into exercise, but my knees have started shrieking when I try and do my lunges. Have I forgotten my technique? Or have I just got hopelessly out of shape and should I just power through it....

OP posts:
ivykaty44 · 12/02/2011 12:08

your kneees never go any further forward than your toes -right?

Original poster
bluepanda · 12/02/2011 22:33

Yes that's right, but still feels like a pulling sensation. DH says I should stop doing them until I've done more cardio stuff for a few weeks - but I'm not hopelessly unfit, just a bit, er, squidgier!

OP posts:
Butterbur · 14/02/2011 16:43

If you belong to a gym, can you do some of those exercises where you lift weights using your quads? I find this strengthens the tendons round the front of my knees, and helps them.

flatmouse · 14/02/2011 16:45

Don't go so far into the lunges if it's hurting. (disclaimer, i know nothing of what i talk, but Jillian ala shred says so!)

hatcam · 15/02/2011 15:15

Are your quads (front of thigh) tight? Do you stretch?

I'm a PT and here's how I would teach a lunge:

Take a big step, slightly bigger than a normal step. Stand up tall. Lift your back heel up off the floor. It should stay up off the floor throughout. Think about the movement being led by your back leg. You want to drop that back knee down in a vertical movement. Stay upright facing forward throughout.

Hope that helps!

If you think your technique is sound, then you might need to do a few easy remedial exercises to help your patella run smoothly in the groove of your knee joint, and possibly look at strengthening some of the other supporting muscles.

Also flat mouse is quite right, limit the movement in the lunge. It shoudn't hurt. Are you on a real mission to get fit - do you think you're overdoing it?

Original poster
bluepanda · 15/02/2011 16:50

Thanks all. I'm pretty sure my technique is ok but will try and work on the supporting muscles and maybe do fewer lunges for now. I used to be a real gym bunny and think I might have surged straight back in forgetting the fact I'm not as fit as I was pre pregnancy!

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