Back in the forum, leg question

[highpockets]

Hello everyone, it's been awhile. Had some health issues with BP and the 'ol ticker, but everything is fine now and I've been cleared to hit the gym again. I've been back working out now for about two weeks so it's going to take some time to get to where I was last winter.

An additional issue besides the heart are my knees. Remember I'm 6'8", 260lbs. and 46 years old. I've had a few knee surgeries and can no longer squat I'm told (bummer). I've found that I can still dead lift (thank God), but I would like to hear some suggestions for continuing to build me legs. I'm not a big believer in leg extensions/curls, but I have been involving some of these in my workout to keep the fluid away from the joints.

I was wondering about lunges? Any ideas?

Thanks in advance!

 

[P-funk]

what sort of knee surgeries?

did you do any rehab post-op?

who told you that you can no longer squat again? How do you sit down to take a dump?

patrick

 

[highpockets]

Tore my anterior cruciate ligament completely and my medial collateral partially in 1981 during my college basketball season. Sat out the rest of the season and went through rehab during this time. Came back for my junior year and was fitted with a lennox hill derotation brace (big and ugly). Developed floating cartilage during my junior year and was scoped to have it removed. Had more floating cartilage my senior year and had it scoped again. Was told by my surgeon never to play ball again. In June of '84 was drafted by the Denver Nuggets, (What was I to say, "My doctor told me I can't play"?). Went to rookie camp and was invited back for veterans camp. Signed early and went to Denver a month early to go through their knee rehabilitation program. On the first day the trainer took my lennox hill brace and threw it in the trash can telling me I would never wear it again. He was right! Even though I didn't make the Nuggets I went on to play in Europe for 8 years without any knee problems however I have little to no cartilage in my left knee. Now it's catching up with me.

My current Orthopedic Doc who is the Notre Dame Orthopedic Surgeon said no squatting.

Regarding dumping, I usually don't crap with a barbell on my shoulders.

Any ideas P?

 

[P-funk]

Tore my anterior cruciate ligament completely and my medial collateral partially in 1981 during my college basketball season. Sat out the rest of the season and went through rehab during this time. Came back for my junior year and was fitted with a lennox hill derotation brace (big and ugly). Developed floating cartilage during my junior year and was scoped to have it removed. Had more floating cartilage my senior year and had it scoped again. Was told by my surgeon never to play ball again. In June of '84 was drafted by the Denver Nuggets, (What was I to say, "My doctor told me I can't play"?). Went to rookie camp and was invited back for veterans camp. Signed early and went to Denver a month early to go through their knee rehabilitation program. On the first day the trainer took my lennox hill brace and threw it in the trash can telling me I would never wear it again. He was right! Even though I didn't make the Nuggets I went on to play in Europe for 8 years without any knee problems however I have little to no cartilage in my left knee. Now it's catching up with me.

My current Orthopedic Doc who is the Notre Dame Orthopedic Surgeon said no squatting.

Regarding dumping, I usually don't crap with a barbell on my shoulders.

Any ideas P?

Sounds like you have had a long road.

Asking how you dump was my sarcastic way of saying you squat down everyday! Just because you don't have a bar on your back doesn't mean that it isn't a squat.

Do you have lots of knee pain right now? Did your doctor refer you out for physical therapy or give you any other options?

No cartilage is brutal and you are going to get a lot of shearing in the joint. I know a few people that have had rounds of synvisc shots - which are rooster cones ground down (into like a liquid) and injected into the joint itself and they have had pretty good success with it prolonging any sort of knee replacement surgery...Did your doctor say there would be a replacement in your future?

 

[highpockets]

No pain just some creaking sounds. I'm sure I could still squat with lighter weight and I know most doctors are over protective. The doctor told me that I should avoid squatting and extreme court sports (basketball I guess). I still hoop with some younger guys on the weekends and ice after working out.

I'm not a know it all, but I've seen physical therapy before and I do not believe it's for me. They will have me working with rubber bands and performing isolated leg extensions to limit the movement of the knee joint, been there done that.

Knee replacement may be in the future, but I really do not want to take that road right now. I was just wondering about other movements/exercises that I may be able to incorporate at the gym to continue strengthening my legs.

I've never done the following P, but I see some guys on a machine at the gym, not sure what it is called maybe hack squats? They're in an incline position and push weights up on a angle. The weights are kind of on a sled contraption. What do you think?

 

[P-funk]

No pain just some creaking sounds. I'm sure I could still squat with lighter weight and I know most doctors are over protective. The doctor told me that I should avoid squatting and extreme court sports (basketball I guess). I still hoop with some younger guys on the weekends and ice after working out.

I'm not a know it all, but I've seen physical therapy before and I do not believe it's for me. They will have me working with rubber bands and performing isolated leg extensions to limit the movement of the knee joint, been there done that.

Totally depends on the physical therapist. some are awful and some are amazing. just depends on who you see.


Knee replacement may be in the future, but I really do not want to take that road right now. I was just wondering about other movements/exercises that I may be able to incorporate at the gym to continue strengthening my legs.

the only way you will know is to try some things out. just work light and see what happens....try some sinlge leg exercise....you are still playing basketball and doing other things you like.


I've never done the following P, but I see some guys on a machine at the gym, not sure what it is called maybe hack squats? They're in an incline position and push weights up on a angle. The weights are kind of on a sled contraption. What do you think?

a leg press may take some of the stabilizers out of the equation for you. but, you can try and squat with bodyweight or medicine balls as well...and then do some single leg crap too.

sounds like you are in a tough position.

 

[largepkg]

Yep, that's the hack machine. I'm not sure how that would be any better than a traditional squat though other then limiting your range of motion.

 

[highpockets]

OK thanks guys. I'm doing my push/leg workout tonight, so I'll try to squat light tonight and see how it goes. Thanks again!

 

[largepkg]

I'm sure there's an age difference between us but I had my meniscus removed over two years ago. I was told to avoid any impact activities as well.

It's not really an option for me and my lifestyle though. So I worked up very slowly and would consider myself back to as close to 100% as possible. I workout and play just as hard as before and have little to no pain.

I'm sure 10 years or so down the road I'll be faced with a choice but right now it's good so I'm enjoying life.

 

[P-funk]

yea...just don't load up on the squats...try body weight or holding a DB.

also, you are probably pretty damn tall (is it safe to assume that?), so you may want to try just single leg work.

 

[Merkaba]

I would look into tai chi and yoga type exercises to strengthen the legs with your body weight. Nothing like yoga as far as I'm concerned. I do agree with body weight squats. If youre not afraid to shoot a little hoops, which I would be, you shouldnt be afraid of simple squats. I would do squats way before running on a hard court.

 

[highpockets]

Thanks again to everyone! Last night I did 4x8 squats with 135 and the same with hack squats. It felt great and yes P, I'm 6'8" so everything is just a little bit tougher since I have to push the weights further than some of you. Regardless I'm going to stick with this routine and weight for awhile to see how the knees feel. I may never add more weight for the traditional squats, but I felt like I could do quite a bit more on the hacks. With hacks your just pushing the weight and not really controlling the bar, but you know that. Anyway it felt good and thanks to all again!

 

[Built]

I'm basically the same age as you and I too have to limit my squatting a bit because of injuries (torn hip cartilage and lower spine deformity catching up with me).

I switched to front squats because of my back, and do walking lunges and split squats. Like you, deads are less of a problem, and they're great too. Lately I'm pushing up the rep range a bit rather than the weight used for squats. We do what we gotta do.

 

[Built]

Regarding dumping, I usually don't crap with a barbell on my shoulders.

Slacker.