Knee Pain

[RickJensen]

Does anyone have any tips on how to deal with knee pain during/after bowling? The last year or so, my knee has started getting pretty sore by the end of 3 games and stays sore a couple days afterwards. I have worn a brace (tried 2 different ones actually) and they didn't seem to help much, and they were just not very comfortable. I do have a semi-aggressive slide, but I'm not sure what to do to change that? Would changing to a 5-step approach help? Or any other tips or ideas, if anyone's dealt with it before? Thanks in advance!

[big blue]

My knee hurts also when I bowl and has started to have pain everyday. When I bowl though I find that drinking more beer :D

[BubbaRay]

Rick one thing to make sure of is the pain isn't being caused by Arthritis. That is a possability. Another things is you stated you have a somewhat aggressive slide. Try and take notice if your knee is forward of your toes on your slide foot and your knee is not to the inside or outside of your foot. The knee being to the inside or outside of your foot on the slide will cause more pressure on the knee than normal.

You culd use one of those elsatic Ace knee bandages that will help support the kneww while bowling.

[can-ham]

I used to get knee pain as well. I added another step to my approach slightly lessening the slide (from 3 to 4 step approach). Also I noticed my foot was pointing to the right when I slid. I started to make sure my foot was pointing in the direction I was sliding, aligned with my knee that really makes a difference.

[HammerTime7288]

I take an Aspirin/Ibuprofen before bowling sometimes and that helps...

probably has to do with how you're sliding though.

[Harris]

Have you had any weight gain lately? It sounds crazy but I'm pretty heavyset about 250 and only 5'9" - 6' on a good day... :D And I can tell you that when I was at 260 my knee would hurt every night I bowled, I started eating better and I'm attempting to go to the gym and loose weight now and, even dropping 10 lbs was enough to alleviate a lot of the pain. So depending on your frame maybe a slight weight gain is making the pain, just my .02 cents, not trying to offend anyone...

[Gates]

I'm a big guy (6'2, 310) and I wear a strap under my left knee and take 3 advil before warmups every night. If I don't, then I definitely feel the pain in my knee. The braces didn't do anything for the pain, but the strap helps keep my kneecap from sliding over, and that alleviates most of the pain. Advil knocks out the rest.

[Hammerhead1987]

What level braces are you guys using? Having played offensive line for 13 years, dropped my scholarships to college to avoid problems later, I have bad knees. Level IV knee braces is what they use in the NFL for offensive linemen. I use a level III hinged knee brace, works like a charm and I have no knee pain. I also where this brace when I go running to avoid the pain later on as well. Took about a month to finally get pain free, but my knee depends on the brace.

If your a big guy like some of us, I was 6'3 310, I would suggest losing weight. I have lost 43 pounds as of right now and I am still going. Now I am at 268 and have a long way to go to get to my goal of 170's. However 43 pounds gone, I already feel a difference in my knees. Hopefully with another 43 pounds gone I will be able to get rid of the knee brace altogether.

[Gates]

On my wedding day, I was 350. :eek: Dropped 40 lbs so far, another 70-100 to go to hit my goal of 230. Dropping the first 40 did wonders for my knee and back, so I figure if I keep going, the pain will lessen as well.

[gfdengine204]

When I started league this year, my left knee would be killing me after games and for the next day. A few weeks ago, I started going to physical therapy for an Achilles tendon injury, and one of the exercises I started doing was lunges with my left foot on a mini-trampoline. It has worked on strengthening my support muscles in my knee (according to the therapists) and my pain has dropped considerably.

I also have been working on balancing on my left foot to build those stabilizer muscles as well. Interesting how I injure my self, and my therapy has worked to improve my game. :D

[Rowdy]

What level braces are you guys using? Having played offensive line for 13 years, dropped my scholarships to college to avoid problems later, I have bad knees. Level IV knee braces is what they use in the NFL for offensive linemen. I use a level III hinged knee brace, works like a charm and I have no knee pain. I also where this brace when I go running to avoid the pain later on as well. Took about a month to finally get pain free, but my knee depends on the brace.

X's 2. You really have to shop around to find a high quality knee brace. Those ones from Wal-Mart just don't get the job done.

Warming up before bowling helps me tremendously. I do squats all the way down to my heels for at least 5 minutes with a ball resting on my shoulder. Then stretch out the hammie for another 5. Slap on the knee brace and I'm good to go.

Someguys I know have had to just use way less knee bend because of the condition of their knees. They compensate by dropping the shoulder as far as possible and throwing the ball farther out on the lane.

[Regortejmar]

Being a 59 year bowler, I have had several years of knee pain. About 10 years ago my orthopedic doctor statred giving me steriods shots in each knee. I was allowed 3 per year. At first the shots would last about 8 months, then the next shot would last 71/2 months, then 7 months, etc. They finally didn't help at all. That was when my doctor said I needed to get a knee replacement. I did the left knee in January 06. I did the right knee in december 07. It did take about 10 months of healing to get back on the lanes. But I never looked back. This year is the first year in the last 10 - 12 years that I do not have any pain. I know knee replacement is not eveyone's first choice, but I have not looked back since I had my knees replaced. I used to carry about 210 average. That had gone done over the last several years because of the knee pain. Last year being my first year back with both knees I was back to about 198-199 average. This year I am all he way back to what I used to carry. I highly recommend the kneee surgery for the knee pain.

[xFlynHawaiian9x]

i agree with alot of what eveyone else is saying in high school my left knee was shattered and now that i have reconstructed knee alltogether i deffently feel the burn. i've found that a level 1 knee brace(something you can get at champs or footlocker) is the most comfortable brace for me i also am a heavyset guy 5'11 250 and advil is amazing all though vicoden does a dam good job to just dont take to many:p expecially if your like me and bowl better the more i drink :D lol thats not usually a good combo thou lol but another thing that i noticed, i had an agresive slide form of 3 step approach i switched to a 5 step and it actually helped my game over all i have less knee pain and my avg has gone up from 182 to 213 so work on your aproach and make sure to "bend your knee" as my proshopper says lol i hate that, but he's rite just make sure you bend it right and dont twist your knee on the aproach

[Gates]

All I got from your post was "Vicodin + Alcohol = 213 average".

I'm in. :p

[Rowdy]

All I got from your post was "Vicodin + Alcohol = 213 average".

I'm in. :p

Too much Vicodin and your average will drop to around 135.

Mine did,but then again I didn't care.

[xFlynHawaiian9x]

Too much Vicodin and your average will drop to around 135.

Mine did,but then again I didn't care.

thats were the skill of being lucky comes in handy rowdy when i get really bad and every thing goes double vision i just have a bigger target lol!!!!

[Rowdy]

thats were the skill of being lucky comes in handy rowdy when i get really bad and every thing goes double vision i just have a bigger target lol!!!!

I couldn't figure out why both those balls I was seeing weren't picking up the 7-10 split.