love t tapp BUT

[farmmom]

I am a begining T tapp on day 5. I can really feel it however it does hurt my knees and my hips sound like they are poping out of socket. have any of you dealt with knee pain? I have been up and down with my weight all my life Highest being 200 I am 5'7 i am 180 currently. Have had knees checked out but not much i can do its wear and tear. Have any of you have increased mobility with doing ttapp I dont want to stop but worried i will do more damage.

thanks
Amy

[sk8rgrrl]

What workout do you do?? T-Tapp, by nature, is supposed to rehab the knees. Perhaps trying the MORE workout vs. Basic Workout Plus or the Total Workout would be gentler on your knees. If you know the MORE version of the moves that tend to aggravate your knees, then you can incorporate those into any of the other workouts.

Is it possible you are bending TOO MUCH?

[farmmom]

I am doing basic plus. i dont feel i am bending to much actually feeling dont bend enough because i cant. I dont know the more version I am new to Ttap and find all the names and such very confusing. I was looking yesterday when i ordered the brusing and i was very confused.

thank you
Blessings
amy

[PhyllisB]

If a trainer doesn't pop in and give advice soon Amy, I would suggest calling the office. They are VERY helpful and will talk you through the best plan for you.

[farmmom]

i just spoke to someone and wow they are great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! never seen customer service like that I am impressd.... She helped me with my stance a bit and not going up and down with plieas so we shall try this ...

Blessings
amy

[lucyjune1684]

I have the same issue...hear my knees creak as I do the moves...but it doesn't really hurt, so I just keep doing it. Maybe I'm doing something wrong, or maybe creaking is ok?

[rskontos]

I think, now, I am not a trainer, but at first most people use the knees to open the Knees to little toes and it should be initiated from the hips. That is hard for some people to feel because they haven't used those muscles in a long time. I find it helpful to place my hand on the muscle or area that I need to focus on and it helps me, my brain, and my muscle to reconnect. At first just thinking about where the movement needs to come from, placing a finger or hand on it to help you think more about it, will eventually help you actually develop the strength. Plus my orthopedic surgeon told me that sometimes you will feel discomfort from muscles not used to be worked and that is ok. He said the difference is knowing if its pain you feel or discomfort. Pain no so good discomfort good because you are using something that is rusty.

Hope this helps and yep the office is great!

Rhonda

[cbuffy]

Aren't the office folks awesome??? They can really help you out and are so thoughtful and kind. I second Rhonda's recommendation to make sure you are innitiating KLT (knees to little toe) from the hip. I literally grab the top of my thigh and "turn" my leg out. It changes the whole feel (and makes my knees much more comfortable).

You really are using body parts and muscles that haven't been used in quite a while. It's normal to expect they will complain a little. Just make sure it's not PAIN you are feeling. But some discomfort is a great feeling - you are WINNING the battle! I imagine the tin man after he finally gets some oil and what a relief that was to him.

Good luck to you on your journey! Keep us posted!!!!

[fruitvine]

Actually, a beginner SHOULD focus on just pushing knees out in the beginning (as opposed to initiating turnout from the hips). Hopefully the modifications for knee issues will help. Have you read this thread?
http://forum.t-tapp.com/showthread.php?p=574609#post574609

Here is a quote from Teresa Tapp:

Hi everyone...

I just wanted to share my reasons WHY it is important to FIRST focus on just pushing your knees out towards your little toes in the beginning regardless of your fitness level.

Knee issues are very, very common due to a multitude of reasons first and foremost from muscle imbalance. Many people have one or two quadricep muscles stronger than the other two which results in unequal tension upon the knee joint area. Compound this situation with poor posture habits (ie: standing with your weight on one leg and with your foot turned out and/or walking like a "duck") creates pronation and unequal activation at knee and ankle attachments.....because of this, most people have tendon and ligament issues where the inside of their knees are too "tight" and the outside of their knees are weaker with less neuro-kinetic transmission. I've seen this with advanced level athletes so fitness level is NOT a factor!

Therefore, in the beginning it is important that you push your knees out towards your little toes so you can help your body help itself regain muscle strength on the outside of your knee at the same time establish better flexibility on the inside of your knee. No weight should be on the ball joint of your big toe AT ALL. In fact, it might be a little bit off the floor.

Once you are able to push your knees past your little toes, THEN you can focus on pressing the ball joint of your big toe down (but do NOT lift your big toe...keep it "relaxed"). This will stabilize your ankle and intensify neuro-kinetic connections for optimal results. When first applying this technique you will notice that your knees will not be able to go as far out to the little toe and some might that see their knees can only reach to their middle (3rd) toe. Continue this technique until your muscles and the muscle attachments to your knee rebuild even greater strength and flexibility to the point that they are able to reach to your little toes and/or past your little toes...THEN you can proceed to the ultimate neuro-kinetic intensity which is not only pressing the ball joint of your big toe but also lifting your big toe. When doing this you should feel even greater muscle activation in the arch of your foot, as well as greater muscle activation between your soleus and gastrocnemium muscles (in your calf). I used to use this technique to help models slim "thick" ankles while working in the modeling industry with great success.

Then if you want even greater slimming of the upper thigh (both inner and outer)....all you have to do is retuck (first establish T-Tapp stance with tuck only, then retuck) your butt adding additional emphasis on pressing your lower back flat and add a "turn out" from your hips. You should immediately feel the intensity all the way down.

BUT don't add the retuck until you are able to press your ball joint down with your knees out in alignment with your little toes.

Hope this clarifies HOW and WHY I do not advise pressing ball joint down in the beginning. The T-Tapp Trainers have the ability to access WHEN you can because they can SEE your body in action. For some this can be right away for others it might take as long as 6 - 9 months. It all depends on YOUR starting knee position.

WHY? Because if you don't allow your knees to progressively develop muscles with strength and flexibility, you can create a menicus tear and/or an ACL issue!

Best wishes to all,

Teresa

[rskontos]

Wished I knew about T-tapp before my acl problem....

thanks Charlotte that helps. But I wonder can you still over push your knees in the beginning and hurt them or do you think it is your knees just unused to the work?

This is why clinics and private lessons help, then you know what your problem areas are to address them.

But I know unfortunately not everyone can attend clinics or have privates.

[fruitvine]

Rhonda, it can be a little of both, especially if you start out with knee issues, thus the modifications for knees (which I did use for many months). I personally had knee problems when I started with T-Tapp and honestly, my knees were a little sore for a long while (like a couple of months, but they didn't *hurt*). They did rehabilitate and now I don't have any problems. There is a difference between "a little sore" and "painful and swollen" or "incapacitated", lol.

It is common for new T-Tappers to experience a bit of soreness around the knees for a week or two as unused muscles are being stretched and rebuilt, but it seems to me that soreness is a small price to pay for muscle balance and strength. However, someone with pre-existing knee issues would need to be more careful, do the knee modifications, and get in touch with a Trainer or the office for help if needed.

[rskontos]

Rhonda, it can be a little of both, especially if you start out with knee issues, thus the modifications for knees (which I did use for many months). I personally had knee problems when I started with T-Tapp and honestly, my knees were a little sore for a long while (like a couple of months, but they didn't *hurt*). They did rehabilitate and now I don't have any problems. There is a difference between "a little sore" and "painful and swollen" or "incapacitated", lol.

It is common for new T-Tappers to experience a bit of soreness around the knees for a week or two as unused muscles are being stretched and rebuilt, but it seems to me that soreness is a small price to pay for muscle balance and strength. However, someone with pre-existing knee issues would need to be more careful, do the knee modifications, and get in touch with a Trainer or the office for help if needed.

Absolutely Charlotte. It is easy to forget that you had any issues with how wonderful you look. I almost don't recognize you in your pictures but I appreciate them because you have been an inspiration to me and many others.

The knee explanation helps. I do have a weaker knee due to its missing its ACL, but I can say that my doc is happy with my progress at keeping my muscle tone around my knee because he says frequently people lose their muscle and there goes the stability.

Thank you for the extra explanation.

[fruitvine]

And here are some more tips from my notes at Safety Harbor à là Teresa:

--if knee hurts, think “last three toes” “lift big toe”
--it will activate at the ankle, not the knee since there’s already muscle imbalance
--this will re-track knee


Hope this helps, too!

[farmmom]

thank you thank you thank you. You have all helped so much I went and bought the book today I am cetermined to change my life. I am sick of up and down up and down. I use to be very very fit and 4 kids and busy busy farm now I need to be fit. I have chondramalacia of the knee but I know I can do this its just finding the right teqnique. Does TTapp ever come to Louisiana???
Are there any trainers in Louisiana. I think being a trainer would be FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!
Many blessign to all of you and I cant wait to be able to post my first inch loss.

Amy

[fruitvine]

No trainers in Louisiana, Amy, so we need one (hint, hint)!

Be sure you let us know how you're doing. We'll cheer you on!

[farmmom]

Well you will have one now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is so set in my mind.

charlotte your story so inspires me. As being a mom of many (not as many as you) hahah and busy.

Thank you for support..

Amy

[just7]

Amy---I'm so glad that they were able to give you some pointers in the office to help with your knees. I was going to suggest not going up and down on the plies for a bit. My knees, especially my right one, HURT. Every step up and down stairs, my knees hurt. I thought I was headed for arthritis in my knees and would need knee replacements like my grandmother (which ended up being a horror story for her).

In the beginning, I could not bend deep either. And when it was time for Tuck/Scoop during PBS, my knees would crackle and twinge and just plain HURT!! (I recently found out that the move is initiated in the lower spine and NOT from the knees and that has made a huge difference as well)

I actually started doing the Twisting out from Hip Socket for Knee to Little Toe after about 2 months and it did seem to help a LOT! Then, I got the MORE Dvd and I watched the section where Teresa shows how to climb the stairs in T-tapp form and how it rehabs the knee. I started doing that as well and I hardly have ANY pain in my knees during normal daily activity! At times, I am racing through the house and going up and down the stairs without a twinge at all.

Bit by bit, T-tapp WILL rehab the body. You learn and progress each time you do a work out, read threads on the forum, talk to people (like the office).... You are never behind and you never really need to feel like you will never get to a certain place. You will...if you remain consistent...doing what you can.

Welcome aboard!!

[nitarose104]

Amy, when I entered the 60 day challnge in 2009, one of my goals was to reduce knee pain. It had been horrible. Practice the tips you have received here and I am certain that soon those knee issues will be a thing of the past.

Before the Challenge was over last year, my knee pain totally disappeared. I'm not certain when it happened, but some time around week 6 I realized that they no longer hurt. We know when the pain is there, but not always when it is gone.

Good luck with your progress. Consistency is the key.

[midlothian connection]

Great posts Charlotte!

Victoria

[jen6]

Yes, great info Charlotte! I've had a few trainees who were just starting T-Tapp ready to quit because their knees ached. They are now so thankful they continued! During the first couple weeks, the knee cap is strengthening as well as the muscle attachment to the knee so they can be achy. They will strengthen very soon. How are your knees feeling now?

Hmmm.... this T-Tapp trainer loves to travel. Maybe a clinic in your area? :thinkingabout: Oh ya! :clappinghands: Send me an email if you want to chat about it...

[Piglet2u]

Such GREAT info for knees here!
I have been needing my knees rehabbed since last June.
Hopefully at the clinic I will get some tips to help me rehab them more effectively
than I have been doing on my own.

Jen, I sent you an e-mail. :D

farmmom, please feel free to join in on the POST YOUR T-TAPP MORE WORKOUTS HERE thread. MORE is such a help! Truly a clinic in a box! I will share there what I learn for my knees at the clinic today!

I've GOT to get to bed!!! :sleeppillow: