[quote]PentagraM wrote:
My right knee has a lot of cartilage damage that hindered my leg workouts for a long time. Then I found Glucosamine/Chondroitin supplements. 3 pills twice a day, and all of my joints feel 100% better. Please give this supplement a try.
Also, high rep squats will definitely cause hypertrophy. I will squat(or leg press) for 20-50 reps every couple weeks. If your knees can handle this; then you might be on to something.[/quote]
cheers for the advice mate. hope you keep working out for a long time. ive heard lots about the supps but it would seem the research doesnt support the claims. however i need to try it for myself and see if it applies.
Magicpunch let us know how the light workouts go as far as hypetrophy. I’m in the same boat as you and was about to do the same thing.
After squatting heavy for over 35 yrs I was begining to get lots of knee pain. MRI showed cartilage wear and tear behind knee caps and a little between femur and tibia. On a lay off now.
On a side note anyone know what kind of future wear and tear can be caused by continuing even light leg workouts or even cardio type workouts, treadmill, starimaster etc.?
Encouraging to hear you still want to continue to lift even when faced with a tough problem like this. My advice is that–if you are able to squat–high rep squats are the preferred method of building the quads for many people. The quads respond very well to high reps for many people, so that is worth a shot if you are able and hypertrophy is your goal. 135 pounds is all you need–see how many minutes you can squat without racking the bar!
[quote]beastin wrote:
Encouraging to hear you still want to continue to lift even when faced with a tough problem like this. My advice is that–if you are able to squat–high rep squats are the preferred method of building the quads for many people. The quads respond very well to high reps for many people, so that is worth a shot if you are able and hypertrophy is your goal. 135 pounds is all you need–see how many minutes you can squat without racking the bar![/quote]
Yeah this shit has been in my blood for many years, will quit when I’m dead lol.
I naturally have long thin legs and small joints, so I have to do something to keeep some size on.
Plus I like the overall conditioning effect I get from a grueling leg workouts an things like 20 rep squats. Never got really that strong (275x20), but I guess the years of brutal quad workouts took it’s toll on my knees.
Going to see a sports medicine ortho to asses my situation.
[quote]beastin wrote:
Encouraging to hear you still want to continue to lift even when faced with a tough problem like this. My advice is that–if you are able to squat–high rep squats are the preferred method of building the quads for many people. The quads respond very well to high reps for many people, so that is worth a shot if you are able and hypertrophy is your goal. 135 pounds is all you need–see how many minutes you can squat without racking the bar![/quote]
Yeah this shit has been in my blood for many years, will quit when I’m dead lol.
I naturally have long thin legs and small joints, so I have to do something to keeep some size on.
Plus I like the overall conditioning effect I get from a grueling leg workouts an things like 20 rep squats. Never got really that strong (275x20), but I guess the years of brutal quad workouts took it’s toll on my knees.
Going to see a sports medicine ortho to asses my situation.
[/quote]
I’ll let you know how things go. I hate the fact that this had to happen when I was 22. But I suppose I can’t complain. I could’ve been born in a warzone.
I get days where it is impossible to go up stairs etc. Other days I feel almost no pain (and this is where I do some working out on the legs). However, with a thin/small stature (5’10’’ and 155lb) and my legs being my weakest point, it is wreaking havoc on my mind.
From 3 different ball sports to 0 overnight is a kick in the teeth.
Anyways, good luck with your training and keep yourself healthy!
[quote]gremlin1267 wrote:
How goes the progress Magic?
v/r
Gremlin[/quote]
Well, surprisingly good and quickly so. I still get terrible pains every now and then. However, the frequency of pains has gone down.
Realising that the hamstring area takes AGES to recover. However, after seeing a new physio (who ripped me a new one) I’m pushing my leg to see what it can do. She basically told me to man up and actually SEE how good/bad the leg is rather than IMAGINE it.
Surprisingly, I am holding up better than I thought. And it only took two higher intensity sessions to feel it. No idea why/how I’ve noticed the improvement, but it has been there.
Significantly, the legs feel good for 4-5 hours after the workout. It is the next day which causes the problem with the bones.
[quote]ADvanced TS wrote:
One set of 20 rep squats 2x per week.
Use approx 30% of your 1 RM (ex. 405lb 1RM, use 135lbs)
Pause for 4 seconds at the bottom.
Complete the concentric as fast as possible, still controlled.[/quote]
Thank you. Will incorporate this.
Incidentally, I tried to push my legs a little further, and figured out that I can not squat more than half my body weight with any real comfort.
I was able to do 2 sets of 10 with 35kg. And it made me smile. The last time I was able to squat half my bodyweight was in 2008.
Also, for the first time since 2008 I managed to jog (albiet on the treadmill) for 300 meters. Felt ok, but won’t try it again in a hurry. Anyways, beats not being able to jog 20 meters at a time!
[quote]ADvanced TS wrote:
One set of 20 rep squats 2x per week.
Use approx 30% of your 1 RM (ex. 405lb 1RM, use 135lbs)
Pause for 4 seconds at the bottom.
Complete the concentric as fast as possible, still controlled.[/quote]
Bump! What else are you trying MP. I love puzzles like this one. It’s always great to try and find things to help someone out that wants to get results, but has certain limitations. I’m happy you’re having some progress.
Check out Eric Cressey’s stuff on T-Nation. I’m sorry I don’t have the exact post but he had something a while back about unilateral leg training that was awesome. I bet it would help.
Theres a company in the UK called Pullum sports, I suffered from terrible back injuries and bought a reverse yper machine that helped me greatly, there definitely worth investing in.
I remember reading an article by Pavel or Louie simmons, can’t remember exactly who as it was a long time ago, but they were saying that box squats allow many to lifters with bad knees to train without pain as knees don’t travel forwards, I would see a chiropractor and experiment until you find an exercise that doesn’t hurt you, I had to replace squats and deadlifts with belt squats,which I think are the most under rated leg exercise, especially if your quite tall like I am, reverse hypers (many reps with no weights) and kettlebell swings (many reps with a light bell)
God luck, sorry to hear about your injuries…