knee pain

[Mendozart]

Has anyone experienced pain, just above your knee cap, on your bass drum playing leg? In the last few months, I've started to develop some pain, usually after a couple hours of playing. I'm 45 years old and have had very minor arthroscopic surgery on both knees (slight miniscus tears) I still play basketball at least 3 times a week with no pain. I'm wondering if I need to maybe sit a little higher. I've loosened tension on my bass drum pedal somewhat. I searched on the internet on knee pain and the patella is where the pain is. BTW, I play heel down. Thanks for any info.

[maddrummr]

I did about three four years ago. Doc said they were growing pains so sorry i cant help you here.

[latzanimal]

Can you hear your kick enough. I know of a couple of guys who have this problem when they are trying to overplay to hear the kick. I realize you said you play heel down. This is just what I've heard from friends.

[rjvsmb]

Mendozart,

Have you seen a doctor about the pain? There are many things that could be going on. You may have patellar tendonitis or arthritis.

You may not feel it when you play basketball but that could be because the joint is warm, lubricated and moving. When you're playing, your knee is basically stationary so it's not as warm or lubricated with synovial fluid. This can cause knees to ache.

Even though you've had minor meniscus surgery, that still compromises the joint and unfortunately father time has a nasty way of reminding us that we're not getting any younger.

Do you do any resistance training to strengthen your lower body? Muscle weakness, muscle imbalances or tightness can contribute to joint discomfort.

Sitting with your hips higher than your knees can help as well as positioning your stool so your foot directly underneath or slightly in front of your knee. As for heel up or heel down, I don't know if it makes that much of a difference. You can change and see if it helps.

Like I said, there could be many reasons for your knee pain. Seek out help for an orthopedic doctor to help pin point the problem.

Good luck.

Best,
rjvsmb

[Mendozart]

Originally Posted by rjvsmb

Mendozart,

Have you seen a doctor about the pain? There are many things that could be going on. You may have patellar tendonitis or arthritis.

You may not feel it when you play basketball but that could be because the joint is warm, lubricated and moving. When you're playing, your knee is basically stationary so it's not as warm or lubricated with synovial fluid. This can cause knees to ache.

Even though you've had minor meniscus surgery, that still compromises the joint and unfortunately father time has a nasty way of reminding us that we're not getting any younger.

Do you do any resistance training to strengthen your lower body? Muscle weakness, muscle imbalances or tightness can contribute to joint discomfort.

Sitting with your hips higher than your knees can help as well as positioning your stool so your foot directly underneath or slightly in front of your knee. As for heel up or heel down, I don't know if it makes that much of a difference. You can change and see if it helps.

Like I said, there could be many reasons for your knee pain. Seek out help for an orthopedic doctor to help pin point the problem.

Good luck.

Best,
rjvsmb

I'm going to be making an appointment with my ortho doc. I just had the minor surgery in February, so I'm hoping I can do some more rehabing to strengthen the knee.

[Wavelength]

Try two things:

1) Let the beater rebound off the head.
2) Play heel down.

[Mendozart]

Originally Posted by Wavelength

Try two things:

1) Let the beater rebound off the head.
2) Play heel down.

Like I said at the top, I play heal down. I also don't tend to bury the beater either. I've got a gig today and I'm going to stretch really well before playing. I think with some physical therapy and the expertise of a therapist, I can probably eliminate alot of the pain.

[bballdrummer34]

Do you force many notes out at a time? Like really fast bass drum notes just using muscle and no technique? I know when i do that I tend to feel it in my knee. And, from what i understand, Dave Weckl has had surgery for that reason.

[Mendozart]

Originally Posted by bballdrummer34

Do you force many notes out at a time? Like really fast bass drum notes just using muscle and no technique? I know when i do that I tend to feel it in my knee. And, from what i understand, Dave Weckl has had surgery for that reason.

I do tend to spit out some pretty quick doubles and occasional triplets, but I've always had pretty good technique. I play a 9002 double pedal, so I usually do alot of doubles and triplets with the double pedal. Depending on what the ortho doc / therapist says, if they want me to change the angle at which I play, I might pick up the DW heel stacker or sit higher.

How are you sitting? Is your knee 90 degrees to the bass or is it at an outward angle slightly? If it's not an angle, I suggest moving your throne back. Also raising the height alittle bit. This way you're taking some pressure off your knee. I actually broke my Patella when I was a kid, and sitting with my legs parallel to the ground and at 90 degrees hurt it. From what I've read, sitting with your leg at a slight angle and sitting slightly higher is the best thing you can do in general.

[That Guy]

Uhhh, your 45 years old. Its gonna happen.

[Mendozart]

Originally Posted by That Guy

Uhhh, your 45 years old. Its gonna happen.

Yeah, I know. But I'm in pretty good shape for 45. I did raise my throne today at my gig and it helped quite a bit. I was talking with my sister at the gig today (she's a nurse) and she said it's probably arthritis. She was saying the best thing to take is plain old aspirin. I still had some Vicodin from my arthroscopic surgery and I popped one of them halfway through the gig. I definitely wasn't feeling any pain, lol.

[That Guy]

Ya, those Vicodin will do the trick.. lol