I keep pulling my ligaments in my knee when doing a drag...Help?

Question

I can do a beautiful drag but it kills! I have done my knee in twice now any advice? Each time it's taking 8 weeks to heal.

Answer 1

Be sensible you will not be able to walk if you keep doing it.

Answer 2

I've done this too!  Seriously, unless you need the drag to pass a test, stop doing them.  I had to quit doing them, and I really loved them too:(  But it hurt, and I dislocated my knee doing one.  They aren't necessary for skating (unlike spirals or jumps), so you'd probably be better off not doing them.

Alternatively, you could try to do one on the other side.  I've tried doing one with my left leg behind me, but it's really hard.

Answer 3

don't do it quite as low.

It will still look good

Answer 4

Oooowwwwwieeeee, you poor thing - I was going to say what others are saying, just don't do them unless you have to.  You can dislocate your knee.  I know a lot of adults won't do them because of knee problems in our former lives.  

8 weeks off the ice isn't worth it!

Answer 5

my advice would be stop doing drags... if it really hurts, WHY? injuries should not be ignored they should be prevented.

the 8 weeks is healing time. are you do strengtening excercises as well coz that might help. You need to strengthen the muscles around your knee. This will help them keep your knee stable, les likely to injure

Answer 6

Sometimes skaters think they are getting their free leg lower to the ice by pressing the knee/leg downward.  I am thinking that when you put your dragging foot down, you probably also turned your knee inwards and put pressure on it.  That's what torked your knee.   Your knee should ALWAYS be aligned with the top of your foot - and if you don't - knee injuries (sometimes serious ones!) can occur.

Flex that dragging foot (heel out) - it should sort of lock your knee so it can't turn.  Pointing the dragging foot may make the foot planting unstable, and make your knee roll (especially if you don't have a good turn out).  All the pressure should be on that skating leg . . . the free leg just needs to follow.  

You've already injured yourself twice the same way, so you do need to look at what's going on with your lunge technique (you don't want this to happen again!).  Start at the top and relearn the drag (lunge) without going all the way down - being aware of what your knee is doing (make sure the knee is turned out - not in!).  You may need another pair of eyes (like a coach's) because you can't see or necessarily feel what's going on with your back leg.  

That being said, instead of going back to doing lunges right away, do knee/leg stregthening/stretching exercises for a long while.  Even though your knee may feel fine, it may not be completely healed - at least to do lunges again.  

Best of luck!  Do take care of your knees!

Answer 7

Always stretch before skating#

Answer 8

Don't do drags.

Answer 9

Ok, just to let you know, drags are technically called lunges. Ok, so I know that it hurts and that you don't want to stop doing them, so only do mediocre drag/lunges. Or you can strengthen your knee, which will make it harder for your knee to get hurt. Good Luck with your knee!