quad

[lady]

My doc says I need to build up my quad more. I'm a bit aggravated because I have been and I think he belives I have not. I have been doing squats, lunges, leg lifts, leg extensions. What am I missing? As much as I am annoyed and aggravated that my doc doesn't think I'm doing it I'm more aggravated that my quad actully does look smaller than the other leg.
Thanks for the tips.

[maryc]

I was told not to do leg extensions with weights, but I do leg presses. Single and doubles 3 X 20 each. It has made a difference for me.

[lady]

Mary, thank you for your help. I'm starting with 2lbs and I'll see how it goes. I would love to do leg presses but I have no access to one. I'm going to try to get on my bike 4x a week and skip the walking for awhile. Hopefully that will help.

[digginit]

I don't know how bad your arthritis is or if you have a problem with swelling, but if you have an effusion above your patella your muscle will atrophy no matter what you do. You have to get rid of the swelling and then concentrate on exercises that won't exacerbate it. Straight leg raises straight leg raises straightleg raises.

~dig

[lady]

My last MRI report in 2006 said moderate to sever progressing rapidly. So I have to think its sever now, but hoping not as I had synvics injects in Febuary and tried again in Sept but had only 2, complicatins had to stop the last one. I did have an MRI 2 days ago and waiting on the report. I had swelling really badly last weekend, a large grapefruit. I iced it, elevated and took advil no help it just stayed the same , so on Monday they drained it. It took a few days and a ace bandage but it finally is looking better. I lost alot of range of motion but that is back and my muscles were junk. I couldn't even drive. So I am working on the quad. I know it is important to have a strong quad. It is very frustrating thought because I have been working it with no results. Thanks for the input. I have been doing leg raises and I bought weights. I am using a 2 pound weight so we will see.

[maryc]

lady -try adding those old reliables - quad sets and static quads.

[williamlaney]

hi all

can i ask if the ankle weight's work for getting the bend back in the knee ?
i have 90ROM but can only get to 65ROM

[lady]

Unfortunatly I had a tough time with that one myself. I don't know how long you've been working at it, but it took me almost a year and I'm not all the way down but exeptable ( I think 5). It can be very frustrating, as we all know as far as our knees go. Keep it up. I rolled up a towel, put it under my knee and pressed it down, as I got better I used a smaller towel. Its such a basic exercise but I really feel it was the one that helpd the most.
I'm still working on my quads. I hear crunch crunch crunch and want to stop but I need to get this quad better. It seems no matter what i do its still is not strong enough. I ride the bike and used to feel so much better but now I feel stiff and at times as I get off and have a hard time walking correctly and its sore. Does anyone have this concern when they get off the bike?
I'm not going to the doctors until my quad is bigger. No way would he believe I've been working at it. I don't believe I'm working at it when I look at my quad. GEESH!!

[Unggoy12]

This is frustrating for me as well. I have tried everything to build up my quad since my surgery 2 years ago. Nothing seems to work. I cannot do weighted leg extensions. The leg lifts seem like the only thing I can do and the results are frustrating. My OS seems to think I am not doing anything to try to improve my situation. I have tried squats and leg presses but I experience major pain after 2 sets.

[maryc]

Make sure of your leg position for leg presses and squats. Your knee should be over your foot, not in front of it. Also are you doing abductor and adductor exercises as well? Strengthening these will also help you with your quads. My favorite site for exercises is cyberpt.com they have a lot exercises that really helped me.
Sending healing rays your way