KNEE INFLAMMATION

[Moni-T]

Hi Everyone,

I have been squatting heavy (heavy for me) for a few months now and around the beginning of December 2011 I noticed that my right knee made a clicking sound with each repetition. I didn't pay it much attention as it didn't hurt or seem to bother me, this was probably a big mistake looking back now. Around a week before Christmas I was at work sitting in front of my computer. By about 11:30am I felt pain in my right knee and when I felt it it was stuffed full of fluid (not bloody)! For the rest of the day sitting down for long periods of time was not sore and standing up for long periods of time was not sore but going from sitting to standing was quite sore.

As I had very good experience with a Doctor of Chinese Medicine with a previous injury I went to see her. She did acupuncture on my knee followed by something called, "hot acupuncture". This involves setting the needle tip on fire then piercing the skin at the acupuncture point with the needle! This helps to drain the knee of the fluid and was done at several points around the knee. Over the next week there was a noticeable decrease in the fluid levels in the knee. I went back to see the Doctor and the treatment was repeated. Again, a noticeable drop in fluid levels, almost nothing.

After a few more days I started training again. At first I went back to my evening ashtanga yoga class and there didn't seem to be any problems. I went to the gym on my lunch break a few times and did light squats with higher reps, pullups and handstands. Again, no issues. Yesterday, Saturday, I trained my breakdancing, that is my main activity and passion. I did notice that afterwards there was a buildup of fluid in the knee. Not much but more than what was there before. So this tells me that I am not ready to return to dancing just yet.

I just wondered if anyone else has had a similar injury and if someone could give me advice on it? Is there something else I have not taken into account?

Regards,

Moni.

[Moni-T]

Ok, I think my injury is actually a sprained ligament. I'm still not sure but my Applied Kinesiologist Doctor is not back in the country until February. So I won't find out for sure until then. Does anyone have any advice on this? Should I rest? Or should I continue with high rep, low weight squats? Will this strengthen the ligament? If not what will?

Regards,

Moni.