Grappling with a bum knee (MCL)

**Res Judicata** · Posted On: 5/03/2011 12:57pm

I have a grade 2 MCL sprain. Yeah, me -- from throwing, not being thrown, ironically. I'm in for about 6 weeks of physical therapy. My Judo coach says that I should learn to love ne waza, because that (and uchi komi later on) is all I'm doing for at least the next three months. Coach --in all seriousness -- is going to tie my legs together for the next month or so for ne waza.

Any suggestions on how to maximize training--safely--for the crippled? I figure that this is a good time to work on my flexibility. Anyone go through this sort of thing?

(I considered putting this in the physical training forum, but this is not so much a "how do squat" as it is "cripple crappling")

**BKR** · Posted On: 5/03/2011 7:12pm

I went through a torn ACL when I was 19 or 20. I never let it heal, and in 1987 I was having ACL recon. So first off, let it heal up, then go back slow. Keep in shape safely while you rehab. If there is any sort of Judo you can do with a torn MCL without aggravating it, OK, but make sure you clear it with your doc first.

And let it heal up, unless you want to see how good your health insurance is.

Ben

**Res Judicata** · Posted On: 5/04/2011 11:41am

Thanks Ben. I'm going to take it as easy as I can without going stir crazy. I've seen too many people with cascading injuries -- one after another, after another.

**BKR** · Posted On: 5/05/2011 5:06pm

I'd use the opportunity to get into mad shape upper body/core wise in any way that would not endanger the knee or hinder it's rehab. I didn't really do that back in the day, as I was in grad school.

Ben

**tao.jonez** · Posted On: 5/06/2011 9:07am

I had a partial tear of my MCL a while back - strength training, yoga (carefully chosen poses and stretches) and boxing with a knee brace on was what I did. It was about 7-8 weeks before I got back on the mat, and even then I wore the brace for another 3 1/2 months.

So nearly 6 months of recovery for me. It should have been quicker, but in the midst of my recovery I rolled without the brace and attended a TD. My eagerness/foolishness agitated it enough to set me back a few weeks. Do yourself a favor and let the thing heal properly (not like me).

I can't remember the brand of brace, but it was heavy neoprene, velcro closures with metal hinges that could lock out at varying degrees. I still own it and can get info to you, or I'll ship it to you if you're in the US. Was a couple hundred bucks, but well worth it despite my other choices.

**Res Judicata** · Posted On: 5/06/2011 10:37am

Thanks. Please post the Knee Brace info. I'm not quite to that point yet -- down to one crutch, like Tiny Tim. And your story is a good one to keep me from doing anything stupid. Sadly, the knee I injured was my plant (right) leg and I fight lefty.

**tao.jonez** · Posted On: 5/06/2011 1:16pm

It was made by Donjoy - below is a link to the manufacturer's page. The ones I see online are $175 ish. Maybe your insurance covers it...

http://www.donjoy.com/index.asp/fuse...il/cat/1/id/24

Playmaker Wraparound/Wraparound IROM Playmaker Ideal Application The wraparound design makes this brace ideal for those patients who have trouble applying a sleeve-style brace. It provides dependable support for mild to moderate ACL and/or PCL, MCL and LCL instabilities. The IROM Playmaker is ideal for post-op care following meniscal repairs as well as ACL/PCL reconstruction. Features and Benefits • ACL and PCL versions feature patented 4-point dynamic design
• Wraparound style neoprene sleeve
• Available with polycentric or IROM hinge
• Polycentric hinge provides extension stops of 10°, 20°, 30° and 40° (10° installed) and flexion stops of 45°, 60°, 75° and 90°
• Additional full-circumference thigh strap for CI conversion

**Res Judicata** · Posted On: 5/19/2011 8:29am

So, it is possible to do ne waza with a bad knee--so long as your legs are tied together. It translated into defending from the fetal position/turtle while a BJJ purple, a high BJJ blue, and an enormously strong Judo brown belt tried to maul me. Good times. The knee was fine afterwards.