Low Impact for Injury Recovery?

[dmlys]

Hi guys!

I need some help from the educated crowd. My knee blew out the other day and since I have spent months hobbled in a brace before, I want to be extra careful while it heals. I'm doing all the right stuff as far as medication, icing, resting, etc. but I'd really like to exercise as well. Does anybody have any suggestions for a good low impact cardio? I tried a Karen Voight workout this morning but it didn't get my heart rate above a Cathe warmup level... While it felt good to move around and my knee felt fine afterwards, I'd really like to retain some level of cardio fitness while I let my knee heal.
Thank you so much for your advice!

Cheers,
Dorie

 

[mogambo]

If you hobbled in a brace and have had to do that much healing, I would not want to push it. I would swim (blech, I know) and walk fast, maybe even walk hills, but no impact.

Try a spin class maybe? Elliptical? And by all means do some killer upper body and abs every other day to spare those muscles from deteriorating.

 

[Mckmain]

It does sound like you are doing the right stuff. I am a huge ICE fan myself. My normal cardio is running, but with some of the injuries I have had I found the only thing that would get my HR up there without impact was my Nordic track. I have never tried an elliptical trainer and I think that would probably be very similar. I just put on some upbeat music and get skiing...I hope you heal quickly.......Carole