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Why do people get bad knees?
There are many reasons why people have knee problems.
Here are a few examples:
• Obesity
•
Overdoing it at the weekend
•
Irregular, often strenuous exercise
•
Bad lifting technique
•
Slouching
•
Too much sitting
• Poor physical awareness
• Poor coordination
• Balance problems
• Twisting & over-stretching
•
Failure to rest appropriately
•
Stiff muscles that are not appropriately exercised (or are exercised in an
abusive way)
• Locking the knees
• Bending the knees unnecessarily
Many of these causes are also responsible for
back problems.
How do you use your knees?
The problem often lies with the way in which
the knee is being used. Knee problems are usually the result
of 3 errors:
Bending rather than relaxing
Twisting the joint rather than using it as a hinge or a piston
Moving the knee too far forwards
Functionality needs
to be addressed. New insights must be uncovered.
Understanding is
required.
Old habits can be broken.
Priority
In everyday life people usually focus upon the hands. If your hands are
misaligned, it will not cause you harm. However, your legs and feet are another
matter entirely.
Weight-bearing
Remember that your legs are weight-bearing and that alignment faults with the
feet can seriously damage the knees.
Correct usage of the hip joint, combined with accurate placement of the feet and
appropriate weight distribution will prevent these problems.
Weight loss
If you are notably overweight, it can badly affect the knees.
Locked knees
Locked knees or overly-straightened legs prevent the knee from acting as
suspension for the body. Relax the knees but do not bend unless squatting down
to lift something.
Hamstrings
Most people have very tight hamstrings. Unfortunately, the back compensates for
tight hamstring muscles (by slouching); giving the illusion of greater
flexibility than is actually present.
We address this in the syllabus by way of psoas exercises and leg stretches. The training is done carefully, gently - in a
controlled manner - without exertion or strain.
Sport
How many sports were originally conceived with good knee usage in mind? Any?
Be honest here. Really think it through.
It will explain to you why so many athletes suffer from knee problems and why so
many runners are wearing knee braces.
Change
If your knees ache at first when doing tai chi, rest. If your thigh and calf
muscles ache, this is good. If your knees are in pain, see your instructor.
Bad tai chi
Not all tai chi is knee-friendly. It depends on the emphasis of the individual
school, style or instructor. Some teachers have better knowledge of human
anatomy and biomechanics than others.
e.g. if you watch a few tai chi exponents on YouTube it is quite common to see
knees buckling in, torquing and being used carelessly.
Good tai chi
In our tai chi school we are very keen to ensure healthy knee use. It is a
notable concern.
Shoulder-width apart
Most instructors will tell their students to stand with their feet
shoulder-width apart. This is good advice.
The relative distance between your feet in Yang-style
tai chi is shoulder-width apart pretty much all of the time.
Suspended from above
This is the first of Yang's 10 essential points.
Done correctly, this concern will facilitate a more balance use of the skeleton
and this will directly affect the knees.
The thigh muscles will lengthen and draw up from the knees, rather than sag and
drop. Counteracting the pull of gravity will lead to a lighter, more nimble step
and reduced pressure on the knees.
The internal is not a gift. It must be worked for,
and discipline is necessary. What is wanted is good balance.
(Robert Smith)
Pluck up
the back
If you succeed in correctly suspending the skeleton from
above, the spine will lengthen and you will experience the sensation of
'pluck up the back'.
If unfamiliar, your body will revert back to
known habits and resist the change in poise.
Be patient and gently re-correct your posture until the muscles of the torso
lengthen and strengthen continually.
Relax the knees
Make space behind the knee joint, as if the knee were moving forward.
Do not bend deeply, simply relax.
Done correctly, the legs will free-up considerably and the lower back will
feel looser.
This is not a squat.
You are simply relaxing the knees.
Look in a mirror
Stand next to a mirror without trousers on. In profile.
Now do 3 different things, one after the other:
Lock your knees
Relax your knees
Bend your knees
The
difference between the 3 positions should be visually obvious.
Never lock your knees.
Bend only when squatting to lower the body.
Relax the knees at all times.
Confused about bending?
Bend your knees and try walking.
Relax your knees and try walking.
The contrast between bending and relaxing should be obvious.
A bent knee is for static squatting.
A relaxed knee is for standing, moving and walking.
More...
Arms back problems feet hands hip & Groin joint health Knees legs pelvis shoulders
Page created
18 March 1997
Last updated
16 June 2023