Needing some advice.

Jabbarwocky
Jabbarwocky Posts: 100 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
A week and a half ago I inured my knee. Nothing serious, just enough to slow me down but not bad enough to justify a trip to the doctor. Not my first time dealing with knee issues. My current issue is that my daily walk at work is hindering my knee in healing. Its uneven concrete and I have no other options on where to walk. We have a small gym here but the choices are limited and the equipment is old. Going to the gym where I have a membership isn't an option as its too far away and I only get a 30 minute lunch. The only cardio equipment available here is an elliptical, an exercise bike, and (correct me if I have the name of this wrong) a recumbent bike where the pedals are in front of you. The recumbent bike hurts my knees, the other bike is a bit rickety and the pedal straps are busted so my feet fall off, and I don't want to get too sweaty on the elliptical. I wear business casual but since I work in a prison, bringing in work out cloths isn't really an option. I want to let my knee heal but don't want to lose the progress I'm making. Any suggestions for alternative cardio would be greatly appreciated.

Replies

  • panda4153
    panda4153 Posts: 418 Member
    If you don't go too hard on the elliptical you should not get too sweaty. Go at about the same pace you would normally walk and you should be good.
  • PrincessMel72
    PrincessMel72 Posts: 1,094 Member
    I'm surprised the recumbent bike hurts your knees - since that's really the only machine I can work out on with my bad knees. I have patellafemoral syndrome in both knees and ellipticals tend to feel really "jerky" even though it's supposed to be a more fluid movement than a treadmill. I hope you're able to find something that works for you but you may just need to rest and recover instead.
  • leanjogreen18
    leanjogreen18 Posts: 2,492 Member
    My advice is rest the knee to prevent serious injury.
  • Jabbarwocky
    Jabbarwocky Posts: 100 Member
    I've considered that Panda but I tend to get a rhythm going and forget about pace. Besides, there is a woman who uses the elliptical several times a week so I may or may not get it.

    Sonya, I just don't want to lose the habits that I've been forming. Only started back on this journey in late January so that option, while probably best, tends to scare me because I don't want to fall back into old habits. On the other hand, if I hadn't pushed myself too much in the first place then the initial injury would have gone away in a matter of days. Considering how my knee felt at the end of the walk today, I may have to go with that option. That's why I'm looking for some alternatives first. Guess I could just wait it till after work and walk at the Y.
  • singletrackmtbr
    singletrackmtbr Posts: 644 Member
    Swimming?
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Rest the knee, see a physio.
  • StealthHealth
    StealthHealth Posts: 2,417 Member
    Drop the exercise until your knee is fixed.

    If you're really keen - do some upper body body-weight exercises at home.
  • LadyLilion
    LadyLilion Posts: 276 Member
    You may have to just run to the Y every day and use the track after work, and don't do more than a mile slowly...just enough to warm up for the strength training. (Wife here. :smile: )
  • Jabbarwocky
    Jabbarwocky Posts: 100 Member
    Thanks everybody. Tavistock, it really is a minor injury that doesn't need medical attention. I just realistically need to quit pushing myself too much and let it heal. I have a routine going at the Y for strength training already so don't want to throw that off so I guess that I will be going to the Y to walk or getting on the elliptical at home after work.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Jabbarwocky wrote: »
    Thanks everybody. Tavistock, it really is a minor injury that doesn't need medical attention. I just realistically need to quit pushing myself too much and let it heal. I have a routine going at the Y for strength training already so don't want to throw that off so I guess that I will be going to the Y to walk or getting on the elliptical at home after work.

    Who are you trying to convince?!

    Realistically you're not looking after your body, maybe you will if you're paying someone to give you that advice...
  • STEVE142142
    STEVE142142 Posts: 867 Member
    You need to rest your knee and let it heal. You're being short sighted in your approach. Remember this is a long-term lifestyle not something really quick. What good would it do your ultimate goals if you did something bad to your knee and you were out a couple months.

    Habits are nothing but a mentality. All habits are is actions we choose to do on a consistent basis.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    We all have had various ups and downs in our journeys. Part of what we need to learn is how to respond to them, how to sustain our habits despite an unplanned break, etc. I understand your desire to keep things going, we've all felt that way at times. Sometimes you do lose a bit of ground and there's nothing you can do about it. Rather than pushing forward in an unhealthy way, I would encourage you to learn some unplanned lessons at this point.
  • spiriteagle99
    spiriteagle99 Posts: 3,751 Member
    Can you walk after work? Now that it's light later, you have evenings before dinner to walk or even later. We walk the dog before bed and it is lovely right now. You might also do weights and some calisthenics (situps, pushups, leg lifts, etc.) or yoga at home after work. That helps keep the habit going without doing more stress on the knees.
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