knee problems

[raingodz]

Hi all,

I am to have my first riding lesson after over five years this Sunday, but I have one big worry. Five years ago I broke my left leg (in a climbing accident) and as a result I have a surgically reconstructed knee which only has 90 degrees of movement; can anybody tell me firstly how much pressure or stress is put on your knees as you ride? And secondly if 90 degrees (form straight) is enough movement? I guess mounting might be hard, unless they have a horse that will let me mount from the wrong side.

Other than this worry I am really looking forward to it, and I am prepared to assume every thing I think I remember is probably wrong! So I shall be taking it from the beginning one step at a time.

Rich

[cvb]

raingodz

My OT has carbon fibre knees. He used to ride. I suspect he tried to get back on too soon after the op - apparently they had to lift him off after only seconds in extreme agony :eek:

However, I had a cunning plan - and got him on a horse with a western saddle. Expecting that we would know straight away if it was a problem (it wasn't) and that after a matter of years since he had ridden, 30 mins toddling would be plenty. Hah ! 2-3 HOURS later after a ride on the moors :eek: :rolleyes: He got off, and could still walk ! ;)

He hasn't ridden much since, but at least now he knows he can.

(He also has a metal rod in his back so falling off would be quite a bad idea :( )

I don't mean to tell this tory to scare you off - more that its the closest experience I know of to yours. I had an ACL repair to my right knee, but still have pretty good movement. When I was allowed back on, my knees did ache - again I probably did too much too soon. :rolleyes: Now I am a bit careful and tend to use a mounting block, but am otherwise your normal unfit weekend rider :D

[Peace]

Probably you should mention this to your instructor. My instructor wanted to crank my stirrups up into SJ length, because that's her discipline and it looked correct to her. But I have a nerve sheath tumor that makes my foot go numb after about thirty minutes in the saddle. So I've been lowering my stirrups a hole at a time over the past few weeks, and found it's helped a lot.

I would think longer stirrups would also help you, because your knee wouldn't be bent so much. That's probably why cvb's OH did so well with western - the stirrups are worn much longer than is customary in hunt seat.

[clurly_wurly]

I have a similar problem to you, I broke my left knee about 4 years ago and have just over 100 degrees movement in it. I can usually cope with riding fine, though sometimes it gets a bit painful if im riding for a while. When I first started back, i took things slowly until I was used to doing rising trot and had strengthened up the muscles a bit more.

Though I have to be careful that I dont ride with my stirrups too long because that can hurt just as much as having them too short, as it makes my leg jiggle about more if you know what i mean.

As for mounting, I gave it a try (using a mounting block) and sometimes it can be a bit painful but its usually not too bad.

Enjoy yourself & let us know how it goes! :)

[kedwards]

Fortunately, I can't speak from experience about this one.

However, I would tend to agree with the others that styles of riding that require a longer leg and less weight in the stirrup (Western or dressage) are generally easier on the knees. Jumping (and otherwise riding with short stirrups) will be quite a bit more difficult on them.

[Sunshine*]

I would almost suggest a western saddle...

I don't have even remotly close to the same problems as you but I know that with my knees, I am destined to always ride western (which I don't mind.. I didn't like English anyways...)

I had a torn ligament on one knee, and the other knee doesn't have a track to run on.. I have a brace for the one with no track.. and ice after every ride for the other one.. .lol

Good luck to you though!!!

[horse luver876]

i would reccomend a western saddle as hunt seat or jumping can put more pressure on the knees . as i ahve one knee that is not connected any more and i ahve to ride abreback . but again western or dreaassge would be better

[raingodz]

Thankyou all for your surgestions, I have my lesson tommorrow morning (Sunday) so I will let you know how I get on. I'm not sure if a western saddle will be avaliable so I might just have to have the stirrups a bit longer than noremal.

Anyway thanks again.

Rich

[Montezrider]

Have you considered using the endurance stirrups with the really cushy pads ? I have some , and love them ! They have made a big difference to me .

[raingodz]

Hi All,

Well my first lesson went very well. They had a nice high mounting block that I could use so getting up was not a problem.

The big thing I noticed was that I could remember most of the basic things, but I'm sure trotting never used to be so 'lumpy'!

Anyway the knee held up well, and a long soak in the bath should remove any problems in the morning.

Thanks again for all your surgestions.

[clurly_wurly]

Hey! Glad to hear you enjoyed your lesson and your knee wasnt too sore! A baths probably the best way to help your leg afterwards. :)

[ploddycob]

Glad your lesson went well!!

I've had both cruciate ligaments reconstructed in the back of my left knee, which i suppose would cause a similar problem as yourself. The only time i ever get pain because of it is riding with my stirrups too short and i'm also really nervous when i dismount as it occasionally gives way.

I would recomend a knee brace, even if its just a pull on type. I know they dont look great either under or over your jods but they really do make a positive difference!!

Good luck and have fun! :)

[ilostmymarbles]

I have a similar problem after a skiing sccident ruined my right knee! At first it reall yhurt to ride for more than 1/2 an hour but I found tha t if I wore my skkiing knee support while riding it reallly helped but it does restrict your movement a bit!

[Stella2]

I'm a bit late to this thread and I'm glad the lesson went well. I have a similar issue with my elbow - its pinned and screwed and I have approximately 80% mobility with it. Based on my experience of the elbow joint, I didn't think that mounting would be a problem, but I do wonder how your knee will feel over time as it is a well used joint when riding. You may find it begine to ache. If so, I'd suggest trying Sprenger 4 way movement strirrups as because they tilt in response to where you weight your foot, much less is demanded of the knee. Even riding at a school, you should be able to use them. You could just take them along for each lesson. I have a bit of arthritis in one of my knees (yes, I am falling to bits) and they make a great difference for me.

[raingodz]

Well it's lesson number two tommorrow, and I have been looking forward to it all week. I will definatly look in to the variouse stirrups mantioned above.

I suspect that as the wether gets colder and damper it might be a problem (hmmm maybe an excuse to buy some thermal jods), but I am so happy it was not as bad as I thought it might be.

Thanks again for all who have given surgestions for my to look into.