Client Advice - Personal Trainer Community - Forum

[davidmccarthy]

I have a Client who is a Dancer that has been in ballet for a long time. She is in her 50's and does some ballet instruction. She has chonic knee problems and is unable to do many common lower body exercises even when just her own body weight. Knee flexion and extension with any weight what so ever is a problem. She experiences pain directly above the patella. However the farther everts her feet ourward and the farther apart she spreads her legs the easier it is for her to preform a squat( just using body wieght) without pain. I think she lacks some dorsiflexion with her ankles. It's common for people who have been in ballet to turn their feet outward also they have such well deleloped calf muscles.

Does anyone have any sugestions on different exercises that could help her? thanks!!!

[rbd]

Focus on hip dominant stuff, such as deadlifts, RDL's, anterior reaches, reaching lunges, etc. I had a guy who was bone on bone and knee was out of alignment due to old ACL surgery and we focused on this with know knee pain. Also teaching individuals to drive up through the heels will ease knee pain in those who squat as well as when going up and down stairs or out of chairs. Also try some resisted and assisted band locomotion drills, as well as lower body exercise. This can often help because of the horizontal load and not vertical.

Because they do so much with toes out - shuts off the glutes, so hit them hard. Also work on some mobility work for her ankle, if you think that is an issue. Try that in her warm-up.

I hope this helps.

Take Care,

Jeff