Knees...a fencer's concern?

[Firebird7137]

So I was thinking about this the other day at practice while doing warm up lunges...Do the motions of fencing (low crouch en garde position, quick changes of direction) wreck your knees later in life, possibly resulting in the need for surgery?

Baseball players throw out arms, football players destroy their knees and rugby players...well, rugby players get beat to a bloody pulp.

Although I'm only in my twenties, should I be wary of wearing out my knees if I plan on fencing for the majority of my life?

~FB

[AndrewH]

Yes.
.

[tikimon852]

ive been fencing for 6 years and i already can feel problems with my knees. When ever you meet older fencers they have knee problems. But some dontit will just depend if your lucky. And if your not there is always bio freeze....works wonders for mine

[MyrddinsPrecint]

Depends on how your body is put together. If you have poorly put together knees, yes, fencing will destroy some part of them. But so might skiing or taking care of small children.

Personally, my feet are so poorly put together that they usually hurt to the point of disability long before I can do something to my knees. Good for my knees?

If you're careful, and take care of your body, fencing need not destroy your knees faster than any other activity. If you wear cheap shoes and only replace them every 5 years, if you aren't careful of your form, if you casually jump in and out of training without paying attention to general fitness, or you train every day of the week......... Yeah, you could do some damage.

[tchwojko]

When ever you meet older fencers they have knee problems.

Just because an active older fencer has knee problems doesn't mean fencing is the cause.

I've been fencing on and off since 1988 and have no knee problems. I also see a trainer to keep in reasonable shape, and cycle. I think any other activity that kept me in shape would put similar stress on my joints.

Though I had problems when I was jogging and didn't get new shoes often enough, a few years back.

[erooMynohtnA]

Yes.

Unequivocally

[Craig]

I don't have knee problems, but I know fencers that do. I also know someone who played HS football and in his 30s had knee replacement surgery.

Learn how to listen to your body and if you are really serious hire a personal trainer in addition to your fencing coach to provide work out programs to strengthen you all around.

Craig

[wwalkerjr]

Fencing is hard on the knees. However, as pointed out by others, you do a lot to avoid or mitigate the problems. It seems pretty equivalent to skiing moguls to me.

One thing I have noticed in my fencing (I am 58 years old with a left knee (front knee for me) reconstruction from hs football) is that if I am not very careful about keeping my front foot facing absolutely parallel to my direction of movement, I risk pain, swelling and cartiledge injury.

Do not forget to stretch every day after you are warm; ideally at the end of your session.

[Redblade]

Blame Gawd for the body She gave you. Blame yourself for not taking care of what you've got.

[TBean]

Depends on your body. Luckily my knees don't bother me - my hips and lower back are another story entirely. I am also currently a left-handed fencer due to severe tennis elbow in my right arm. I have team mates with shoulder problems and wrist issues. I am sure someone at my club has dealt with knee pain.

It is very important that you listen to your body and identify your weak spots. Find exercises that will help strengthen and support those areas to minimize the possibility of injury. Cross training is important (core strength is vital), as is warming up and stretching.

Welcome to fencing.

[oiuyt]

I am sure someone at my club has dealt with knee pain.

I can pretty much guarantee it.

*cough*fechter1*cough*

-B

[Morale Officer]

Any sport will take its toll on the body.
I know I have very bad knees. I've had surgery on both for chronic dislocations as well as tears. I started fencing about 6 months after my first surgery and picked up the sport again 2 years after my 2nd surgery. I'm hoping that it'll be a while before my next surgery, but who knows. I am not an advocate of running since it's very high impact. I usually use my stationary bike when I'm at home. As for stretching, the post stretching is better than prestretching since there has been some research done about micro-tears formed by stretching when "cold." I am one that premedicateds with advil as well as keeps up a "maintenence" level during tournaments and after. I also have started using Glucosamine suppliments as they helped me before. As long as you don't push yourself too far (I know, I'm being hipocritical here), it shouldn't be too bad.

[Fechter1]

I can pretty much guarantee it.

*cough*fechter1*cough*

-B

Summoned, I appear.

Yes, I have knee problems. Currently waiting for a replacement meniscus for my 5th knee surgery...

However, I can say with near certainty that fencing is not the root cause of my knee issues. I had knee issues before I started fencing, and would have been in line for surgery no matter which sport I chose to pursue.

In my mind, fencing does not CAUSE knee problems (especially if you have good footwork technique), but it does exacerbate existing issues.

[lindajdunn]

Summoned, I appear.

Yes, I have knee problems. Currently waiting for a replacement meniscus for my 5th knee surgery...


In my mind, fencing does not CAUSE knee problems (especially if you have good footwork technique), but it does exacerbate existing issues.

I'm interested in that meniscus replacement surgery as I had two meniscus tears (not fencing related, imcorrectly diagnosed, and probably made worse by continuing to fence until the correct diagnosis arrived).

I'd love to hear how this works for you post-surgery.

[Goldgar]

Currently waiting for a replacement meniscus for my 5th knee surgery...

Replacement meniscus? I find that intensely interesting -- please let us know how it goes.

- Dirk (meniscus? what meniscus?) Goldgar

[Peach]

Older fencers need not have knee problems. The most important mechanical issue is the lunge--too many fencers over-lunge, so that in the final position their knees are above their toes. As you get older, I suggest you make the lunge shorter rather than longer, and concentrate on making controlled actions rather than trying to be fast and athletic.

I had knee problems from twenty years of distance running before I started fencing, and also from being 57. If I don't over-lunge, my knees don't get worse.

[hello?]

Also, make sure that when you lunge your knee does not end up in front of your foot. (Ie. lunge correctly.)

[magic_moose]

Peach is right.

Also listen to your body.

If you hear a coach saying, "Do it until it hurts"..... DON'T.

If something starts hurting, give it a break and think about your technique.

[Fechter1]

I'm interested in that meniscus replacement surgery as I had two meniscus tears (not fencing related, imcorrectly diagnosed, and probably made worse by continuing to fence until the correct diagnosis arrived).

I'd love to hear how this works for you post-surgery.

I would suggest not rushing ahead for a replacement surgery, especially if you have 'only' two tears (depends of course on the size/location of those tears). Therapeutic relief is definitely preferable and should be afforded a chance to work.
My problem is basically that I have no functional meniscal mass left...

Replacement meniscus? I find that intensely interesting -- please let us know how it goes.

- Dirk (meniscus? what meniscus?) Goldgar

I will most likely revive my blog once I have the dates down. Funny thing: when I was out looking for a surgeon, I took the chance to visit San Francisco for a day, since the Stone Clinic has made some sdvances in that area. Ironically enough, they had a good fit meniscus on hand, and could have performed the replacement surgery right then and there... However, I was completely unprepared for it at the time, Mentally, physically and logistically. Oh well. So now I am on the wait list, since I was declared 'fully healed' in September...

Peach is right.

Also listen to your body.

If you hear a coach saying, "Do it until it hurts"..... DON'T.

If something starts hurting, give it a break and think about your technique.

I can not stress enough the excellent advice here. Rep.

Also, make sure that when you lunge your knee does not end up in front of your foot. (Ie. lunge correctly.)

Oh so true as well. Rep.

[hello?]

The most important mechanical issue is the lunge--too many fencers over-lunge, so that in the final position their knees are above their toes. .

Peach was typing her post at the same moment that I was typing my previous one, it seems. This is what I meant...

Also, I think cross-training might be important to avoid fencing-related injuries. I used to go to the gym at lunch but, two years ago, switched jobs and it became impossible. For the last two years, all I've done is fence (four or five times a week). "Things" have started to hurt that never hurt before (I am also 52, but refuse to admit it has anything to do with getting older!!!). I have just started Bikram Yoga to see if that helps...