Long-term knee injury affecting training?

**PXM** · Posted On: 12/03/2012 12:00am

Hey guys, long time no post,

I can't imagine I'm the first person to experience this issue, so hopefully I can get some general advice here.

I've recently dislocated my patella for the third time in a year, and have been given the 'nothing we can do in the long-term' advice by physiotherapists and orthopaedic surgeons.

Now I'm not looking for medical advice, but some advice on which direction to take my martial arts training would be greatly appreciated.

FWIW, I managed my first injury in Judo, which I then stopped for the year, as this was my first and major injury. Following on it's been a couple of general sporting accidents, with about 2 week recovery time.

Apart from the athletic brace my old gym recommended, as well as kneehab, would anyone have any advice in terms of perhaps a different MA to give consideration to, especially since I was looking forward to beginning a striking art.

Off the top of my head, I consider BJJ and boxing to be more considerate to my knee.

Thanks very much, I would really appreciate some help.

***battlefields*** · Posted On: 12/03/2012 12:34am

Well, you start on the knees in BJJ all the time, so bad knees might not be the best here. My knee has popped out twice this year already (the good thing is it pops back in easily) and that's literally just because someone clamped on to my leg and twisted their body, they weren't even attacking my leg at the time. Boxing, well, you do need to twist a little on your legs which can put a little strain on your knee. Although as far as I know, boxing would be your best bet if you had knee trouble.

**The Cap** · Posted On: 12/03/2012 12:53am

My knee's sidelining me for quite a while too, I am still waiting to see a specialist for a meniscus tear I suffered at the end of the summer. I've dropped judo entirely for the time being, but I find that bjj is easy enough on my knee to keep practising.

**PXM** · Posted On: 12/03/2012 1:01am

It seems we have a lot in common battlefields. It's nice of the knee to get right back in there, mine does that as well.

I can't believe I didn't consider starting off on knees as well, but I guess the intelligent folk don't hurt themselves throwing some other dude.

**Diesel_tke** · Posted On: 12/03/2012 10:40am

I'm currently recovering from ACL reconstruction and meniscus resection on 08/22/12. For the last few weeks I've been able to start back working on FMA footwork at a slow and controlled pace. I've also been able to keep striking with stick, knife, and empty hand. Hopefully end if this month I will get the go ahead for moveing more dynamic. But from what I understand BJJ is going to be out for a long time. And anything with knee torque really gives me pause after what I've been through.

Good luck on figuring out your path!

**PXM** · Posted On: 12/03/2012 6:03pm

That sucks man! Makes me feel I have it easy.

My old man went through several reconstructions, and the period when we thought I had to do the same was awful.

Good luck to you as well, I've found just the one local boxing club, hopefully it works out.

Any thoughts on the kind of questions I should be asking to sus the place out? It looks like a good place.

**Ming Loyalist** · Posted On: 12/03/2012 7:30pm

i have a torn meniscus (sanda/kung fu) and sprained MCL (judo) on the same knee, but i'm dumb enough to keep going back.

for whatever reason, i found groundwork easier on the recovering knee than standing judo, but neither feels like a particularly good idea to my knee from the messages it sends me (i think the clinical word for those messages is pain.) a smarter man would quit while he could still walk, but not me.

you're probably best off with boxing, all things considered, but the skipping and road work won't be easy on the knees either.

**Diesel_tke** · Posted On: 12/03/2012 8:03pm

Yeah, boxing will do you well. Ming, I feel yeah. I only have 1/3 of mu maniscus left in there! They wanted to do another surgery to replace it, but I'm bucking it and getting back to training!!