[quote]Antares wrote:
PX:
I have read most of ‘your’ threads, and found that you while more accomplished and somewhat older than myself, have a similar issue, a rather large issue if you ask me…Bad knees…
I read that you can not train legs, weekly in cold weather. Same here. I also read that you train the Hack Squat ( machine or BB ? ), and this helps some.
I was wondering if you could elaborate on what you are doing to get your legs from big to bigger still with this joint issue.
I already have taken steps months, ago for myself, but I just wondered if you are doing anything that I could use myself, or if you have gleaned something from one of your comrades in iron with similar issues.
I just don’t want to be in a wheel chair before I am 35 is all, and I take BB’ing in the old-fashioned way ( become king of the behemoths ).
Belated thanks for all the great input and ‘necessary evil’ around these dim, lawless boards…keep fighting the good fight.[/quote]
My knees kill me from about October/November until around March or April. I think they have gone up at least half an inch (they feel like it) just since April simply because I can now train them every week with no problem. They feel better now than they have in a very long time and I am not sure if it is because of the fish oils or my increased warm up time before I hit them.
As for now, I work the shit out of them while I can because I know I will have to back off to once every two-three weeks when late fall hits.
My usual routine for now is:
Calf raises (these are done everyday first in the workout)
Leg extensions (don’t ask about number of sets. I go strictly by feel now)
One legged leg presses (around 4 sets)
all of the previous is done with “moderate” intensity…which for me means that I am concentrating on FEELING the muscle being hit instead of really moving a shit load of weight.
The following is usually when the breaks get cut and I go all out.
Squat machine (going up to my heaviest set but sometimes starting with only 2 plates a side over SEVERAL sets that I don’t count in number…but if I had to estimate, it is about 6 sets or so).
Leg curls.
My legs are just now starting to get comments so I assume it is working.
As far as tips for knee pain:
-knee wraps can save your life
I don’t always use them, but I do use them when I feel any knee pain at all. I have a neoprene sleeve as well as one of the elastic bands that fit under the knee cap and I wear both at the same time
-warm up well
I never just jump into heavy sets anymore. This may be why I am still putting up big weight with no significant injury (knock on wood).
-if all else fails…anti-inflammatories.
I do not like taking pain medication on a regular basis. In fact, I advise against it…but I do take some ibuprofen on rough days during the winter because I wouldn’t be able to train legs otherwise.
Other than that, no pain no gain. I still go heavy. I still want some more size on my legs.
I hope some of that helped.
