HIIT/Tabata w/bad joints: good/bad?

Zaftique

My google-fu came up with contrasting info on who should do Tabata-style workouts, so I turn to the trusty MFP folks.

My knees sound like gravel, will they just pop right out of their sockets if I try doing HIIT stuff? Any recommended sites with HIIT exercises that might be easier on crunchy joints? Or perhaps I'm just stuck with low-intensity stuff for the time being.

I just liked the idea of a 4m workout and done.

sjohnny

I just saw hit and joint

TAsunder

You can do Tabata Training with a lot of different exercises. I guess it really depends more on the exercise than the style.

TeaBea

My google-fu came up with contrasting info on who should do Tabata-style workouts, so I turn to the trusty MFP folks.

My knees sound like gravel, will they just pop right out of their sockets if I try doing HIIT stuff? Any recommended sites with HIIT exercises that might be easier on crunchy joints? Or perhaps I'm just stuck with low-intensity stuff for the time being.

I just liked the idea of a 4m workout and done.

I won't do high impact anymore.....you can try a few days. If it's painful, I would back off.

A couple of ideas for higher intensity low-impact

Rebounder.....(mini-trampoline). Some are very forgiving on the joints. I have a Jump Sport....pretty forgiving. People with more joint issues might consider at Bellicon.

Step aerobics......not super great on the knees, but you can choose your step height.

Danny_Boy13

If you have joint issues I would make a suggestion that you stay away from high impact activities until you consult a medical profesional. That is about the best advise that anyone can give you but here is what I would do if I was you.

I would start with some Tabatas on the bike. It is low impact and should be forgiving on the joints. Do that for a couple weeks and see how you like it. Then maybe try some Tabatas on the rowing machine for a week or two and see how that feels. Then if all is good do some tababtas while running... and I am not meaning on a treadmill. Many "claim" to be able to do a tababta series on a treadmill but that is nearly damn impossible. I actually call BS on it. When doing tabatas you are going 100% for 20 sec and then resting 10sec. It is impossible, without having to monkey around with the belt speed, to maintain that on a treadmill. And by the time you increase or decrease the speed of the belt the on interval is half way over, translating into not going at 100%.

So try that and see how your body responds. If it hurts then dont do more and pick something else that is not such a high impact on the joints.

Zaftique

Good advice all, thanks!


(and hey, if joints for joints work, maybe I can get that medical mary jane card. muahahahaaa)

DopeItUp

Do you have actual joint problems or are they just noisy? Creaky, grinding, popping joints are not necessarily a problem. Mine are so loud that I have to blare music or it distracts me. If there's no pain, swelling, doctor's diagnosis, etc then there may not be an actual issue.

DavPul

"sound like gravel" is not an actual medical condition.

TAsunder

If you have joint issues I would make a suggestion that you stay away from high impact activities until you consult a medical profesional. That is about the best advise that anyone can give you but here is what I would do if I was you.

I would start with some Tabatas on the bike. It is low impact and should be forgiving on the joints. Do that for a couple weeks and see how you like it. Then maybe try some Tabatas on the rowing machine for a week or two and see how that feels. Then if all is good do some tababtas while running... and I am not meaning on a treadmill. Many "claim" to be able to do a tababta series on a treadmill but that is nearly damn impossible. I actually call BS on it. When doing tabatas you are going 100% for 20 sec and then resting 10sec. It is impossible, without having to monkey around with the belt speed, to maintain that on a treadmill. And by the time you increase or decrease the speed of the belt the on interval is half way over, translating into not going at 100%.

So try that and see how your body responds. If it hurts then dont do more and pick something else that is not such a high impact on the joints.

For the treadmill you set it at a high pace and then go on and off of it (by holding onto the handlebars and then popping your feet to the outside of the belt). You leave the speed constant. I have done it several times and it works fine. However, I will agree that it is difficult to truly set it at your max effort safely. I am usually a bit below where I would consider the max treadmill effort.

Zaftique

Do you have actual joint problems or are they just noisy? Creaky, grinding, popping joints are not necessarily a problem. Mine are so loud that I have to blare music or it distracts me. If there's no pain, swelling, doctor's diagnosis, etc then there may not be an actual issue.

Trying to do lunges, etc. is painful to the point where I can't tell if I'm working the muscle groups, my knees are burning, crackling and I can't walk for a few days after. I haven't had as much trouble with biking, so I'll stick with that and increase my walking, and hope that easing back into more rigorous movement helps it along.

I can't afford knee-replacement surgery, so I've been avoiding the doc in case that's the diagnosis. I firmly believe that LA LA LA LA LA I CAN'T HEAR YOU is a valid way of dealing with joint problems, and you can't convince me otherwise at this time. ^_^


la la la la la la la la la la la la....

Danny_Boy13

For the treadmill you set it at a high pace and then go on and off of it (by holding onto the handlebars and then popping your feet to the outside of the belt). You leave the speed constant. I have done it several times and it works fine. However, I will agree that it is difficult to truly set it at your max effort safely. I am usually a bit below where I would consider the max treadmill effort.

That is more a less standard interval training. Tabata is 100% max effort... setting it at a high pace is not 100% meaning it is not Tabata.