Arthritic knees and riding

[x.fat-pony.x]

Today, my knees went. I had to sit on Gem for about 30 mins till my knees had the power to bend to get me off, and I had to be driven home.
It's never been this bad, but saying that they have been getting more painful as the days went on this week. Standing up in my stirrups is horrible, but needs to be done as we are concentrating on faster work e.g long canters and so I can't be bouncing on her back, poor lass :o

What can I do riding wise to help me? Stretches etc?
(I know people take glucosamine, but am also diabetic :rolleyes: so can't have it)

Thanks :)

ETA - My 1000th post!!!! :p

[Sammii]

Can u not go stirrupless?

:( Sounds painful, hope you sort something out hun. xx

[tazzle22]

what sort stirrups do you have ..... my knee far better once I got caged endurance stirrops . you can get either the plastic ones that are flexible enough to give a bit .. mine have 1/2 thick firm foam that gives a bit ..... lessens the stress on the knees.

of course that does little to help actual stiffness of keeping leg in same position for long periods .. I just have to take feet out of stirrups and do stretches

Its also the reasoon I ride more western than english positioning .. got an endurance saddle thats a sorta half ways house between the two

[Gemsluvshorsesx]

Hmmm... i take Cod Liver Oil for my arthritic ankle... It seems to be helping but i havent been on a horse yet so we'll see... ive also been told that I should increase my protein intake... stuff like oily fish is great for joints.

Ive been looking into those flexi irons for my ankle, maybe they would be helpful in reducing the stress on your knees?

Have you also considered getting some sort of support for your knees? I know it sounds silly but I use support on my ankle, it also warms it up reducing the chance of it siezing up on me. Might be worth looking into. It should also decrease the wear and tear on the joints. Something as simple as a support bandage could help, I wear mine whenever my ankle is giving me grief.

Also, how do you get on Gem? Using a mounting block if you do not already do so would again reduce wear and tear.

I would ask your doctor/a physio for advice on exercises you can do out of the saddle which will probably help. I wouldnt advise trying exercises riding without checking with the doc first as you dont want to do any more damage, I have to be careful with my ankle myself... i presume you see a doc regularly, so it might be worth asking their advice on suitable exercises.

Good luck

[Grace O'Malley]

What sort of riding do you do? My knees aren't too bad, but riding with longer stirrups/straighter leg is definitely more comfortable. Also I splashed out on some of the flexible irons, and yes, I love them :cool: Not magic, but a significant improvement. I used to nearly collapse in the legs when dismounting after a hack :o

[Alfies-slave]

Try...

Flexible stirrup irons, like the sprenger ones. They take the pressure off the knee.

Also, DAPPS or other stirrup hoods help.

Try an aussie stock saddle or western saddle and ride deep and long... all that lot will help your knees no end!

[Roxy Sew]

Have you tried using a knee support? I know how painful it is having bad knees, I have dislocating ones, which dislocate with out any warning, so I can sympathise with you! :o

[Millymum]

i have arthritis in my knee and i use the sprenger bow balance flexi stirrups. I can honestly say i have not had any pain on my knee after riding since i have been using them.

I have had some lessons where i have had to work hard using my legs and this is when it usually hurts the most, but not now.

Also rubbing some balm into your knees before and after may help.
I cna recommend the Tui Massage wax (the sports relief one). they have essential oils in them that you find in most modern muscle pain creams, but they are natural :)

[Emerald_city]

my mum has rheumitoid (sp) arthritus in all her joints, there are times she finds it difficult but the main thing is to make sure you have the right length strirrups at first as if not this makes her alot stiffer after. And as for standing up in stirrups only lift very slightly off the saddle and just get a more forward possition, thats a more comfortable way then for you and your horse doesnt have to deal with the bouncing

[x.fat-pony.x]

Thanks everyone :)

Regarding the stirrups, are there any cheap versions? All my budget gets spent on the little cobby one, nothing left for me! I know there's eBay, but I'm growing tired of bidding on there as I keep getting messed around :rolleyes:

[Jane.A]

There are some cheaper ones in the Robinsons catalogue, £25. They seem ok, I got a pair for my GP saddle as I couldn't run to another pair of Sprengers. Must say I cannot ride with ordinary stirrups, too painful.

[jUmPingIsLifE]

If my knees are bad I will take 3 asprin or IBprofin or something before I ride.

[Jetstreem]

I have rheumatiod arthritis too, its soo annoying when my knees start to hurt when im riding! :rolleyes:

I got a set of hinged stirrups without the springs, but still have the rubber coating, they hinge forwards backwards and sideways too but dont stretch like the sprenger ones. I got them from Derby house for £25 but I can't find them on their site anymore :o:rolleyes: I couldn't be without these stirrups now. I have ridden with the sprenger ones but they actually caused my knees to become very painful, I have no idea why, but I was in agony after using them. Now I can ride for up to an hour with no pain at all.

It really sucks having sore joints, i just ride without stirrups now if i can't bend my knees, it's a job trying to get on and off, but what the hell!!

Cerys :)

[Jeni_92]

aww my mum who has never riden b4 went on a beach ride at murthwaite and she has arthritic knees she was in agony by the end, she says she couldn't stand trotting!

[Afellpony]

I have arthritic knees too. I take homeopathic pills called Rhus Tox and they help immensely. They stop the pain for long periods of time. Far longer than any conventional pill. I also have Rhus Tox cream which I put on at night before going to bed. When I get up, I dont have any pain at all. I also have arthritis in my hands.
However, cant get off my pone the conventional way/ Have to put my arms round his neck and just slide down. He doesn't care. Bless him, he just stands there.

[moonbeam]

before my knee replacements i always used funnel stirrips still do also as your diabitic please as you no you cannot take alot of things and the rule of thumb is these things worked they would prescribe them. always use a mounting block and to dismount put your leg over the front also try getting on and off on the right side the woollen leg warmers up over the knees can help and take your painkillers before you ride providing they dont make you drowsy and please if offered a knee replacement go for it its not that bad and then you will feel better good luck

[teddypony]

this post is a year old !

[Millies Mum]

oh well never mind,,, advice is still the same, and might help somebody else with poorly knees,,,,, my advice use neoprene sleeves,,, they keep knees warm, and any other bits too, and also give support,,, also get strong pain killers from doc,,,also try accupuncture,,, i have it on my back and hips and is great,,,, know it does not work on feet so well, but may be ok on knees,,,, hips and back is fab...
:):)

[Denbenj]

cardiac arrest :o, funny tho I never saw FP have any problems when riding?

[RDB]

Might be an old post but glad I found it.I was only complaining yesterday to my sister about how my knees always hurt after a ride.
Lot's of good advise :)

[Soot]

I know this is an old post, but very useful to me seeing as I've seriously injured my knee and am thinknig long & hard about how to make riding as pain free as possible (bearing in mind there's no way I'm staying on the ground for more than one more week) ... Have just ordered about£100 worth of various types of knee supports, neoprene sleeves, strappings, braces, etc ... Am going to try each one out when I start riding again and will advise back on my favourites ;).

[*OEH*]

I'd be very interested in what you come up with soot as I'm in a simillar position having broken my leg and torn the ligaments in my knee in march. I've only been riding again for about a month now, but I've tried several things.

First what the doctors said- tubigrip- well that wold work if the ends didn't roll and cut off the blood supply.

Then I tried something simillar to a tubigrip but with fixed ends, well that rolled too.

Then I tried a neoprene one from boots and that did a great job, but by then I'd ridden so much and unbalancedly keeping too much weight on my good knee that that one's sore too, so I got another one for that leg too.

I then tried them out cubbing and the bad knee swelled really badly and the neoprene rubbed the inside of the knee raw.

So now I'm back to riding with nothing and just being really careful what I do for a bit as it strengthens. However I'd love to find something as I'm sure it'd hurt less.


OOH also- if you don't have the springy stirrups you need to get them- I can't trot with out them- my knee seizes up and I have to be helped off, with them much less pain.

[Meganrose]

Have just come back on after a long break and this post is great!! I also have bad knees and have had one cleaned out recently - need a new knee cap but too young!!

Going to try that rhus tox stuff cos am on so many tablets already! Also have a terrible spine and back so find some days impossible BUT keep my horses cos they make me have a reason to get up in the mornings!!!:)

[FayeObs]

Ive been having knee problems! It started after i stopped riding for a few years - Doctor said that because i'd been riding since 3 my knee caps have grown different cause of the muscle round them!!

Does anyones knees make a grinding sound when you go up steps or bend your needs or do rising trot???? Is that how all your knees started???

They might get better now ive started riding again and the muscle rebuilds maybe??

xx