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HW: Special Cases
Special Cases: Knee Injuries
In the instance you have a client who has any kind of knee injury, we want to avoid any poses which could be contraindicative, i.e. exacerbate the problem.
Therefore we want to avoid positions such as a full hero pose where the knee is both flexed at 180 degrees and also has some internal rotation. Twisting the knee is not a good idea here. Instead, if possible, you could perhaps use a couple of blocks between the feet to sit on in the instance the floor cannot be reached without pain. Over time, blocks can be reduce until we can sit on the ankles allowing for full flexion. The full hero pose with butt on the floor between internally rotated thigh bones should only be taken once the knee feels healed and strong and flexible enough. Otherwise, avoid the full position.
Bridge pose or extended bridge may also feel a little tight as it requires the strength of an already strained muscle to provide the lift. Instead we can provide support in the basic form of the pose with a block under the low back to provide extra support, meanwhile working with other poses to strengthen the muscles around the knee to reduce the feeling of strain in the damaged area. Leg extensions to strengthen the quadricep for example could be useful here. In the event it is difficult to straighten the leg, it could be that the muscles in the back of the knee have tightened to compensate for the weakened front side of the knee. Working to gently stretch the back of the leg with i.e hamstring openers, can be really helpful.
<font color=”rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)” face=”inherit”>From my own experience with post surgery knee flexion Childs pose was incredibly difficult. It was nonetheless an essential pose for stretching the back and providing full relaxation despite the fact that full knee flexion was not available. To work with this I instead added blocks and cushions behind me for support, gradually decreasing the height of the support until my sit bones were able to make it back and down to my ankles. Equally important however, is continuing to build strength in the muscles all through the leg to ensure there is enough strength to support the joint. This is </font>achieved<font color=”rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)” face=”inherit”> through a regular practice taking care to keep equal balance on both legs with an even posture and ensuring the knee does not twist. Over time, a post surgery or injured knee can return to optimal </font>function<font color=”rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)” face=”inherit”>. </font>
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