help for my poor old knees?

[mandwhy]

So I am finding riding is really taking its toll on my knees at the mo! Does anyone else find this a problem and any recommendations to make it better? Rising trot seems to make it especially bad but they hurt and feel grindy/clicky even when I haven't done much of that :-(

They've been a bit rubbish for last few years ever since I went to Paris and did loads of walking on the uneven cobbled streets?!

Poor old knees, forget getting on from the ground! I did find riding helped them before but now they can't seem to keep up so any exercises I can do or maybe glucosamine or something?

I'm only 26!

*Hobbles off to heave self onto horse from a great height*

 

[Spot_the_Risk]

I take three times the recommended dose of glucosamine each day, on the recommendation of my specialist, but the best thing I've done is buy stirrups which have a spring on each side - mine are Metalab. I rode for twenty minutes a year ago in normal stirrups and was in a lot of pain for days afterwards, I simply couldn't got back to 'normal' ones.

 

[cold_feet]

I've used these:
http://www.performance-equestrian.com/cat/catitem.asp?pc=SST&d=2&s=5
Really helped when I was suffering with my knees. (look a bit strange, but really helped).

 

[J&S]

As an older rider I have had knee problems too. Some simple and cheap ideas:
Use the treads that are wedge shaped, they raise the outer side of your foot so taking some of the strain between knee and ankle/foot. You can still ride with weight to the outside of your foot/little toe but because of the wedge it is not actually stretching it downwards and giving the "pulling apart" feeling.

Also, you can buy very simple knee supports (on Ebay £3..50 ish !) . the are just neoprene with a velcro fastening, I wrap one round the top of my short chaps. Some have magnets in aswell.

I have also found the the wider stirrups, as used in endurance riding, are great for longer rides/trec etc.

Since I damaged my left knee a year or so ago i am extremely careful of the angle that I place it at for mounting. i can no longer mount "correctly" facing the hindquarters, but carefully place my toe in the sturrup just enough to support me I face the saddle and mount so as not to have to twist it all the way round when swinging into the saddle. As bits wear out we just have to adapt as best we can!

 

[mandwhy]

Oh yes spot I was looking at the springy stirrups they sound really good, do you have sprenger ones or cheaper ones? I often have to shove my heels right down to feel more secure when anticipating bucks etc so wasn't sure if cheap would be a mistake! Those do look strange but also comfy cold_feet! Hmm will have to give glucosamine a try, bit skeptical about whether such things work but worth a go!

 

[Fransurrey]

I also have dodgy knees, but mine is due to poor conformation and doing stuff which my body isn't built to do - I'm a bit knocky kneed, with collapsed arches, uneven hips, subluxating cuboid....if I was a horse they'd have shot me by now!

In the saddle is the main time I suffer, now, so interesting idea about the wedge stirrup treads. Where do you get those from?

For day to day life I wear inserts in my shoes. These have helped a bit in riding, too. I'm another who can't mount the correct way and I mount from a wall, despite having a 12hh exmoor!

 

[sodapop]

I have had knee problems for years, made worse by breaking one knee three years ago. I dont take supplemements but what I find makes the difference between a comfortable ride and a painful one is to only ride in a dressage saddle with nice long stirrup leathers. I can hack out for hours without pain but put me in a GP saddle with shorter stirrups and I am in pain after 10 minutes.

 

[Equinus]

Haven't ridden for seven years, apart from sitting on one in the school recently, and my knees are definitely worse that they were! I can't do a rising trot without a great deal of pain (could have been the very uncomfortable Western saddle with protruding bits though) but I also rode with long stirrups and wedges years ago. A lot depends on how comfortable and safe the horse is too, and how much leg you need. I needed very little with my old girl, and she had a trot which was easy to rise to and comfy.

 

[mandwhy]

Ah the stirrup treads sounds like a good idea! I do feel like it is the outer part of my knee that suffers most. I definitely find riding long most comfy although prefer a GP as I don't like a high cantle at all,instructors always seem to want to put my stirrups up a couple but I think I'd rather live with the slight detriment to my riding and not be crippled by knee pains! It's amazing the difference a hole or two makes!

 

[soulfull]

I have problems too, also I have had lots of surgery on my ankle and really struggle. HAve used sprengers but recently found these, I have now sold sprengers and got two pairs of these. First pair I paid £35 but then amazingly

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/compositi...r_Equipment&hash=item2c66d74225#ht_713wt_1139

The wider tread made a big difference as well as the cushioning

 

[MrsMozart]

Sprenger stirrups!

Don't like other stirrups now, they feel odd and my knees ache if I use them.

 

[soulfull]

Sprenger stirrups!

Don't like other stirrups now, they feel odd and my knees ache if I use them.

I too swore by them, until I found these, the wider base make them even easier on your joints
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/compositi...r_Equipment&hash=item2c66d74225#ht_713wt_1139

 

[sugarpuff]

I've got dodgy old knees (& I'm only 34!) and I use the bow balance ones and normally ride in a dressage saddle. They aren't too bad at the mo but I can't run and if I drive the 4x4 which has a heavy clutch my knee is worse.

 

[w1bbler]

Definately go for stirrups like cold feet suggests, husband has these for his dodgy knees and can now ride all day instead of 1/2 hr at a time. So good I'm getting a pair even though I have no knee probe.

 

[Award Equine Physio]

As a qualified physiotherapist I thought I would give you my thoughts...

I would advise you to see a physio (you may want to go private other wise you will be waiting for a while!).

I often see people with knee problems, aggravated by riding. Make sure your legs (Quads, hamstrings and calves) are as strong as possible.
I also often see very tight hips. These can change the way you walk and ride which would change the weight distribution through your knee joint, leading to pain. If you search online for piriformis stretch this is very good for hip tightness. But honestly, it is worth spending a bit of money on seeing a physio and asking for a full assessment and some exercises and stretches.

If you have any questions, you can pm me

 

[Spot_the_Risk]

These - they have a spring rather than just a flex. http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_n...ode=raw&keyword=metalab+stirrups&geo_id=32661

 

[Nicnac]

I always poohpoohed my husband and his glucosomine. I now swear by it - double dose every day and it's made a huge difference.

 

[wyrdsister]

I have long-standing knee problems (too much xc running as a kid!) and my physio recommended cycling to build up the surrounding muscles. That and a rosehip supplement have worked like a charm!

 

[Chestersmummy]

I broke my knee 10 years ago riding and since then I haven't been right but the thing I find helps the most is riding with my stirrups 2 holes longer than I used to ride.

 

[mandwhy]

Right got my eye on a few stirrups now on eBay any excuse! I don't think I like the look of ones with a tread that swivels/tilts though.

I had thought of mentioning it to my GP but I am always there for other things he must think I'm such a hypochondriac haha. Maybe a private physio is a good idea, god I am so unfit anyway, riding is about the only exercise I do at the moment, I tried running but even walking makes them get super grindy :-/ I hear swimming is good for strengthening without all the impact so I should really do that.

I often dismount when I'm getting a migraine from my hat, buckling at the knees, eyes and nose streaming from hayfever and my arms covered with heatrash! Summer riding does not seem to agree with me!!