Fitness question

[lesliemarie]

I have bad knees and my left knee is the worse, when I bend down to do something I can hardly get back up without tons of pain in the knee, I know I need to strengthen the leg and the hams on my legs, My question to you all is, what exercises do you do and do they help so I can bend down and get back up with just minimal pain. Also I have been forbiden step aerobics, I have been reading everyone's comments on Turbo Jam and I really want to try it, I was thinking of posting just my Cathe step workouts on E-bay and get Turbo Jam party, Wish cathe did some floor aerobics too.

 

[Jcrew3082]

Hi lesliemarie,

Sorry to hear about your knees I've never had knee probs, so I am not sure I can help. My best guess would be to start with squats and deadlifts at a light weight and a limited range of motion. I'm wondering, are your knee probs due to an old injury, joint probs?

 

[four_boy_mom]

Your best bet is to try physical therapy. If you are having any joint pain at all your muscles sorrounding that joint will not perform at full strength. This is a defense mechanism to protect the injured joint. If you try strengthening through the pain you will just cause more damage. Get your M.D. to get you a referral for P.T. Make sure you have had a complete diagnosis of the problem first. This may involve an MRI of your knee. Once you have the referal make sure you go to a sports oriented clinic.I'm a sports P.T. and I've seen alot of people make progress without surgery. Good luck to you!

 

[kathryn]

>Your best bet is to try physical therapy. If you are having
>any joint pain at all your muscles sorrounding that joint will
>not perform at full strength. This is a defense mechanism to
>protect the injured joint. If you try strengthening through
>the pain you will just cause more damage. Get your M.D. to get
>you a referral for P.T. Make sure you have had a complete
>diagnosis of the problem first.

I agree completely.
This kind of pain requires more than a simple 'do-it-yourself' solution. You could end up making things worse. Especially if part of it is a tracking problem, and you not only do not correct the mistracking, but add weights and reps to the already out-of-track movement.

 

[Gayle]

<<Your best bet is to try physical therapy>>

YES! Defintitely see a doctor and get a PT referral. A good PT also be able to identify where your weaknesses are, and put together a list of exercises that will be the most effective and not exacerbate your problem.

 

[tillard]

I just wanted to add that Turbo Jam was really hard on my knees. And alot of the movements just felt somewhat unsafe for your joints. So keep that in mind. The Turbo Jam workouts are fun, don't get me wrong, but I'd hate for you to get something and it end up hurting your knees more.

Deni

 

[Poochy]

Hey ..

I am on the upswing of a knee injury (tendon tear) ...

First thing I would do is .. IA w/everyone .. seek a good PT or sports doc .. to nail down the specific problem .. if it is not from an injury .. it could be swelling/imflammation in the joint or early arthritis .. in either case an MRI or good PT or sport doc would be able to tell you exactly what to do ..

.. as for my injury .. the sports doc .. reccommended 6 - 8 weeks of NOTHING .. NOTHING .. (like to have killed me) that turned into 12 - 14 weeks of NOTHING .. after that .. restriction of stepping, lunging, squatting etc ... but the go ahead for walking and he reccommened cycling for the "popping" .. my years of running and stepping wore away on my pads and wore down my joints .. the reverse movement of cycling would help to smooth out the joints (ball and pin)..

.. I would say your safe bets for exercise are Pilates (mat work mostly) .. workouts using the fitness ball .. basic yoga w/restriction on hard knee bend poses .. walking is always good .. start w/some LIGHT weight training or weight bearing movements (maybe w/dyna-bands)keep your reps high and your weight low .. and your range limited ...

I would stay away from any bouncy dancy steps .. no stepping at all .. until released by a doctor:-(

I feel for you .. hard to find good sweaty workouts w/bad knees or a bad back!! But be inventive and study .. gather any info you can on your specific knee problem .. there are MANY websites out there w/loads of good info!

 

[lesliemarie]

thanks all, I have been to an orthopedic surgeon and what is going on in my knee is no muslces build and low on cartilege. other than that there is really nothing wrong, he did say strongly NOT to step, or run up and down stairs, but everything else he gave me the go ahead like roller blading and things like that, so if he says those are safe on my knee then I was thinking Turbo Jam has to be about the same but yet I have never tried them but will keep your advice to heart, thanks again, he did say the pain will lesson if I can strengthen the muscles,