Reducing impact of in-home cardio?

cerrajean

This sounds absurd to me, so laugh if you will, but I feel it's worth asking...

I have a Jillian Michaels DVD that I really like, I've done it the last 2 nights (every night since I bought it!) but I skipped it tonight because of soreness. Not muscle soreness- that I can power through. This is achy joint soreness resulting from the fact that I'm 240lbs and hopping around like the 120lb ladies on the DVD. There's so much jumping involved, and I know it's great exercise, but I just can't do it every night like I want.

Other than the modifications on the dvd (squats instead of jumping) is there any advice out there on how to minimize the actual, physical impact on my body? I only have one surface to choose from when working out, and that's a hardwood floor. I've laid out 2 yoga mats, but they're little help in absorbing impact. Anyway, if you can think of anything, my lower back, knees, and ankles will thank you very much!

Nopedotjpeg

The only thing I would think would be not jumping as high. Not sure exactly what kind of exercises these are so I couldn't tell you. Is it like globe jumps or something?

ninerbuff

This sounds absurd to me, so laugh if you will, but I feel it's worth asking...

I have a Jillian Michaels DVD that I really like, I've done it the last 2 nights (every night since I bought it!) but I skipped it tonight because of soreness. Not muscle soreness- that I can power through. This is achy joint soreness resulting from the fact that I'm 240lbs and hopping around like the 120lb ladies on the DVD. There's so much jumping involved, and I know it's great exercise, but I just can't do it every night like I want.

Other than the modifications on the dvd (squats instead of jumping) is there any advice out there on how to minimize the actual, physical impact on my body? I only have one surface to choose from when working out, and that's a hardwood floor. I've laid out 2 yoga mats, but they're little help in absorbing impact. Anyway, if you can think of anything, my lower back, knees, and ankles will thank you very much!

Simulate a jump without jumping off the ground. Just get up on the tips of your toes and come back down.

A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

smplycomplicated

I know exactly what you're talking about. Both my ankles have been swollen since i began Jillians 30 day shred on the 2nd. It took me a while to figure out it was from the impact of doing all of the jumping jacks,jump ropes,and butt kicks. the rest of the workout i can handle. I bought a new pair of workout shoes lastnight and todays workout was alot easier for me. It still hurt a bit, but nowhere near as bad! My ankles are still swollen, but i am hoping it goes down within the next couple of days.

Pebbles536

bump

cerrajean

It took me a while to figure out it was from the impact of doing all of the jumping jacks,jump ropes,and butt kicks.

YES! These!

the DVD is the Fat banishing / Metabolism Boosting, so it's 40min of intense cardio, with 5min warm up and cool down.
Off the top of my head, in addition to the ones you've listed there's also:

Jogging in place
Squat jumps
180s (jump 180 degrees in one hop)
Moguls (kinda like smaller, faster 180s)
Standing Mountain Climbers
High knees
Cross Country
Skaters

Yeah, that's just off the top of my head.

It's a little discouraging that my body can't handle these things that I am so ready to do, because I already have to modify the workout since almost an entire circuit is done in plank position and I'm rehabbing a shoulder injury. sigh.

Di3012

This sounds absurd to me, so laugh if you will, but I feel it's worth asking...

I have a Jillian Michaels DVD that I really like, I've done it the last 2 nights (every night since I bought it!) but I skipped it tonight because of soreness. Not muscle soreness- that I can power through. This is achy joint soreness resulting from the fact that I'm 240lbs and hopping around like the 120lb ladies on the DVD. There's so much jumping involved, and I know it's great exercise, but I just can't do it every night like I want.

Other than the modifications on the dvd (squats instead of jumping) is there any advice out there on how to minimize the actual, physical impact on my body? I only have one surface to choose from when working out, and that's a hardwood floor. I've laid out 2 yoga mats, but they're little help in absorbing impact. Anyway, if you can think of anything, my lower back, knees, and ankles will thank you very much!

Simulate a jump without jumping off the ground. Just get up on the tips of your toes and come back down.

A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

This ^

Make it low-impact until later on, you will still burn the calories, don't worry about that.

smplycomplicated

Make it low-impact until later on, you will still burn the calories, don't worry about that.

That's what i've been having to do from time to time. I'm hoping that it was completely shoe related, and that I'm not actually injuring myself further. I have never had an issue with my ankles till now. I'm sure the extra 50 lbs i'm carrying around isn't helping them much either, BUT i'm slowly fixing that!

sofaking6

Make it low-impact until later on, you will still burn the calories, don't worry about that.

That's what i've been having to do from time to time. I'm hoping that it was completely shoe related, and that I'm not actually injuring myself further. I have never had an issue with my ankles till now. I'm sure the extra 50 lbs i'm carrying around isn't helping them much either, BUT i'm slowly fixing that!

Those jumps are *really* high impact...don't feel bad about modifying them for awhile or for a portion of the video.

I have a shoulder injury as well..I'm curious what you're doing with the planks? I've been doing alternating chest flies and situps but would love some other ideas!

cerrajean

Make it low-impact until later on, you will still burn the calories, don't worry about that.

That's what i've been having to do from time to time. I'm hoping that it was completely shoe related, and that I'm not actually injuring myself further. I have never had an issue with my ankles till now. I'm sure the extra 50 lbs i'm carrying around isn't helping them much either, BUT i'm slowly fixing that!

Those jumps are *really* high impact...don't feel bad about modifying them for awhile or for a portion of the video.

I have a shoulder injury as well..I'm curious what you're doing with the planks? I've been doing alternating chest flies and situps but would love some other ideas!

For the plank work I've just been trying to keep moving- I know that's about strength and core and all, but when they hit the mat for Mountain Climbers or the walking from hands to elbows thingy, I actually jog out of my living room and down my stairs. When I get to the bottom, I turn around and jog back up! By that time they've generally moved on to the next move in the circuit and I can either jump in or I take another lap on the stairs. (I'm definitely going to have to figure a further modification out once someone moves in to the other unit in my building!)

I'm using the arm-swings and jumping jacks and a few rotator cuff strengthening exercises to try and build up the shoulder in the mean time.

carole456

Bump, for when I need this!