Seeing the truth about knee use

Link The truth about knee use

 

“Seeing the truth is a gift”

Knee injuries do not happen only to older people.  

People often resist using logical principles, even when they get clear feedback and advice from experts. This is a big problem.

Over the past 50 years, I studied with five teachers. Four of those experiences were rough, and one led to chondromalacia patella, which means my knee cartilage softened. When I asked questions, I often got short or even unfriendly answers.

 

In 1978, sports doctors diagnosed my knee problem. They asked me to show what I was doing and warned, “…omigosh, that can get worse…”.  Some teachers never explained how to avoid injury. Only Master Stephen Hwa who is a noted Chemical Engineer, gave clear, science-based answers in simple, caring language. He became my fifth teacher 23 years ago. 

 

I once told him, '…I was reading about your accomplishments, and I saw what you did just with your patent for wiper blades. That alone tells me you understand the science regarding shear force and torque…'

 

Re. Engineers and knee injuries in Classical Tai Chi

An engineer, even without medical training, would likely understand knee torque and displacement. These ideas are based on mechanics and physics, which are central to engineering.

 

Here's why:

• Core Principles: Biomechanics is the study of how mechanical principles apply to living things. It uses engineering principles such as Newtonian mechanics, kinematics, and dynamics to understand the human body. Engineers learn these topics in their training. Education in physics, Newtonian mechanics, kinematics, and materials science provides a direct and powerful lens for analyzing biomechanics.
• Torque (rotational force) and displacement (change in position or angle) are basic ideas that engineers use all the time. Using these concepts to understand the knee is a natural step for them.
• Engineers use math, modeling, and problem-solving to study complex systems. These skills help them understand the forces and movements in the human body. They sometimes create computer models of the musculoskeletal system.
• Engineers may not know as much about anatomy or the body's healing process as doctors do, but they understand force and motion very well. That’s why engineers often team up with orthopedic surgeons for research, prosthetic design, and surgical planning.

Classical Tai Chi focuses on preventing knee injuries, which often happen because of poor technique or twisting. With more than 40 years of experience, Master Hwa teaches that doing Tai Chi correctly should make your knees stronger and healthier, not hurt them.

 

These are the main ideas and techniques for keeping your knees safe in this method:

Key Principles for Protecting Your Knees

• Move from the Waist: In Tai Chi, the twist should start at your waist, not your knee. Turning from the waist helps protect the meniscus from strain.
• Knee Alignment: Your knee should always line up with your toes. It should never drop or twist inward when you shift your weight.
• Proper Weight Transfer: Shift your weight smoothly, without rocking or bobbing. Otherwise, you might put too much pressure on your knees.
• Continuous Internal Movement: The movements should flow smoothly, which helps your joints move safely.