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  1. #1
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    knees hurting in a hammock

    Not sure if my sleeping style in a hammock is at fault or not but since I started sleeping in my hammock a few months ago my knees have been hurting especially if laying on my back has anyone else had this problem, I go from side to back alot and they only bother me when I am sleeping on my back

  2. #2
    Senior Member Bic's Avatar
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    people have said that when laying in a hammock your knees get hyperextended.... it's solved pretty simply by placing a pillow under your knees when you sleep. I've started bringing a section of CCF rolled up (held together with a strap and buckle) and it allows me to place it under my knees and if it's really cold I can unroll it and put it under my feet or butt for more warmth. Hope that helps... I'm sure others will chime in
    The camper formerly known as HikingDad...

  3. #3
    Senior Member beep's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by birdygal View Post
    Not sure if my sleeping style in a hammock is at fault or not but since I started sleeping in my hammock a few months ago my knees have been hurting especially if laying on my back has anyone else had this problem, I go from side to back alot and they only bother me when I am sleeping on my back
    Try a stuff sack, jacket or small pillow (or the equivalent thereof) under your knees. I suspect they are slightly hyperextended.
    "The more I carry the happier I am in camp; the less I carry the happier I am getting there" - Sgt. Rock

  4. #4
    Senior Member bigbamaguy's Avatar
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    Or you could lay with one leg bent under the other one as another possible solution to this issue. I have found this works wonders when I am on my back sleeping plus it allows me to spread the hammock out more.
    Par Si Vis Pace Para Bellum

  5. #5
    Senior Member Joey's Avatar
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    I've noted this happens when folks don't get that good 30 deg. sag, which allows the hammock to hang in a way to achieve a truely flat lay. If you are a bit high on the angle, the material will pull up in the middle and your legs won't lay right, causing knee pain.

    Extending your thumb and forefinger is a good way to check the angle. Ensure your suspension lines run between the tips of these two digits.

    That's my thoughts on this....

  6. #6
    Senior Member Pipsissewa's Avatar
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    I have had the exact same experience, Birdygal! My knees have developed a weird pain that comes and goes at odd times. This is NOT knee pain on the back or front of the knee from hyperextending. I think it's hammock related, however, for the following reasons:

    I get it sometimes when I lay on my back in the hammock with my legs bent froggy-style.

    The pain is in both knees, and I've never had knee pain before.

    The pain is ON A DIAGONAL!!!! from the bottom of my knee cap upwards and inwards.

    The pain started shortly after I set up a hammock in the living room with a Turtle Lady stand and laid in it every evening to watch TV. I SLEEP on my side, but was watching TV on my back.

    Since relating the two, I've made an effort not to lay with my legs bent froggy-style, that is to say, bent and angled upwards (does that make sense?) I lay on my side or flat on my back with my legs straight or one knee very slightly bent.

    Good luck!
    "Pips"
    Mountains have a dreamy way
    Of folding up a noisy day
    In quiet covers, cool and gray.

    ---Leigh Buckner Hanes

    Surely, God could have made a better way to sleep.

    Surely, God never did.

  7. #7
    Senior Member Nojack's Avatar
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    Using my jacket or fleece pant/shirt tucked under the back of my knees helps alleviate discomfort. It, also, serves as insulation since I have 3/4 UQ.

  8. #8
    Senior Member Scottybdiving's Avatar
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    I use an inflatable sit pad since I always have it with me, anyway. Like others have said, many things work that you already have with you, and then they become multi-use items.
    We are now ready to start our way down the Great Unknown.We are three quarters of a mile in the depth of the earth.We have an unknown distance yet to run, an unknow river yet to explore.What falls there are, we know not; what rocks beset the channel, we know not; what walls rise over the river, we know not. Ah, well! We may conjecture many things. The men talk as cheerfully as ever; jests are bandied about freely this morning; but to me the cheer is somber and the jests are ghastly. Powell 1869

  9. #9
    Senior Member BrianWillan's Avatar
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    I had the exact same issues with knee pain in the gathered end hammock that I had. I tried all the usual solutions mentioned above to no avail and finally switched to a bridge style hammock and since then my knee pains have vanished.

    Cheers

    Brian

  10. #10
    all secure in sector 7 Shug's Avatar
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    Maybe try a longer hammock.
    I just got a Wilderness Logic Snipe.....11' long. Very flat and really comfortable...my most comfortable.
    Hope you get it figured out.
    Shug
    Whooooo Buddy)))) All Secure in Sector Seven

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