back of legs to knees

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eichleayformula
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September 20, 2008 at 6:33 pm

Post count: 1

#1181

I was a long-distance runner for many years, took second place in a marathon and just always really pushed myself. When I started having persistent sciatic nerve problems (mostly on the right side), I picked up Bikram’s Yoga. I’ve been going 4-5X per week since 11/07, without much improvement in the leg discomfort. An experienced teacher suggested I focus on locking my knees to engage the reciprocal something-or-other. My prayers were answered when my legs started feeling better. Next, within a couple of weeks, my KNEES started killing me–again, much worse on the right! The right knee is now so stiff when I get home from the studio, its hard to get out of the car! And yes, it hurts in fixed firm pose. Most of the discomfort is just above the knee cap and I do have some swelling. The left is irritated but the right is much worse. BTW, I never had a single knee problem in 20 years of beating the pavement.

Thank you very much for any help or advice.

blue
Participant

September 21, 2008 at 5:23 am

Post count: 32

#3486

I too am a long distance runner. same issue w/ the yoga!!!!!! and…………. it gets BETTER!
what was happening to me was my knees were realigning, my hips legs and knees were moving into the correct position. this is painful
for a bit once your body adjusts it gets better. focus on LOCKING your knee and engaging your quad. in fixed firm spread WIDE and then once your down on the ground then bring your knees together. do keep running but only w/o pain. I had to cut back to once-twice a week for a bit. as soon as your knee bothers you STOP and walk. GOOD LUCK

Gabrielle (The Hot Yoga Doctor)
Forum Owner

September 21, 2008 at 6:50 am

Post count: 3048

#3487

Hi eichleayformula

Thank you Blue for beating me to the punch! And for giving your experience as a fellow long distance runner.

I would love to add something to your sage advice.

Blue is perfectly correct about the alignment adjustments the body goes through. Along with the changes in your leg come flow on effects as the rest of the body falls into line – a shift that the body really enjoys. Of course as you have discovered there can be some discomfort along the way. Please, please, please if you have pain in the knees(and I don’t mean discomfort, but pain) when you are trying to get your bottom to the floor in Fixed Firm, you need to listen to that pain and respond in one of 2 ways.

Blue has given you one way and that is to widen the knees. This is great as long as you keep the hips and heels touching. It doesn’t matter in the slightest if your knees stay apart the whole pose. You can try bringing them back together again to any degree but ONLY IF your bottom stays planted.

However, if even moving your knees apart has them still causing you pain then a restorative pose is in order. It may sound lame: but simply kneel with toes knees and heels together. Easy. Achievable. Great for restoring and balancing knees! If you are sitting like this you stay like this and you do not go back onto your elbows.

It seems that you are not running anymore. And to be frank, if you are, probably wait for a while for this issue to resolve. I would certainly recommend some long, slow stretching (did you get our guide?).

Solid knee alignment starts from the ground up. So check out how your feet and ankles are rising to the challenge. From the information you have given, firstly it is possible that you have sustained some damage to your knees and this is surfacing now, whether coincidental or not, one can never say. Secondly, with some mindfulness on your alignment and precise yoga technique it seems that it is eminently likely that you will feel strong and comfortable in your knees before long.

And FYI your teacher was referring to reciprocal inhibition. :cheese:

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂
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