MilitaryForums.co.uk

Hi guys,

I'm new, so please take it easy on me
Like the subject says..."tendinitis" on my knee, can I join the Royal marines with this problem?I think another name for this injury is "Runners knee".
I'm going to the Doc on wednesday to see what he says,if the Mod learns that i had this problem will i be rejected?
royal marines web site says you will be rejected if "You suffer from Rheumatoid Arthritis, or any other bone or joint disorders".

Thanks for your replies

think you've just answered your own question there mate

So is there anyway around it?
There must be other guys here with a similar knee injury!

If you have just got runners knee then have a rest. Several people on these forums have suffered from this before and are currently in basic, so dont worry too much.

So does anyone know what the Royal marines website means by "any other bone or joint disorder".
Sorry for carring on about this but i'm quite worried about it.

Thanks again

My mate is the best cross country runner for his age group in scotland and he had Tendinitis problems for a while but it just went away over time.

Why not go and ask at your local AFCO?

Cheers mate
James_m

Dont know how old you are or the extent of the tendonitis and I aint gonna offer medical advice, but.......

If your having problems before you join, and you join and add weight on your back and start yomping over the moors in boots and full kit, its going to get worse. Then you will go sick and as the Navy have a duty of care they will treat you. Then if it persists you will be discharged shore as medically unfit and the Navy will then be open to you sueing them.

So the Navy will say if you have a problem before you join you cant join.

Simple and direct and may sound harsh but thats how they think.

Before you go in if you have history of joint problems in adolesence then the NAvy do look at the "growing pains" aspect, ie if your not fully grow but doing alot of phys then pains do occur, and can sort themselves out with age and proper training (ie running on grass, proper trainers etc)

But basically if you have enough of a problem to require a Doc, then it doesnt stand you in good stead. The Navy wont take the chance and lets face it, enough of us had knee problems after joining let alone having the problems before starting training.

Good luck but if you have knee problems then Commando service may not be for you.

Loki - it's NOT tendonitis mate. Iv got the same problem. Its just an overuse injury that occurs during your teens (growing pains as doc said) and WILL disapear if you rest it. It can be healed with rest but sometimes takes months at a time. I'd say you need to stop what running you are doing (are you doing uphill/steps and downhill crosscountry?) and start swimming and building your legs up so that the impact may be absorbed better.

Also, as iv said before in another thread, get some new shoes/ insoles and get them properlly fitted by someone who knows what theya re talking about and take your time actually chosing them too!!
Knee supports dont seem to work on that problem and the pain keeps recurring. After about 3 weeks rest try running again (not straight into 80 miles a week, but gradually).

Id recommend these insoles as ever since iv used them, iv had no trouble with my knees.

REST A FEW WEEKS FIRST!!!

http://www.return2fitness.co.uk/Foot_Ca ... /soleultra

Bloody good i tell ya! And being a bit more optomistic than doc