Alternatives to squats? Help!

Jersey_Devil

walking alone wont help... BUT any lifting with torn cartilage in your knee can be dangerous! See your doctor. Would be best to get a diagnosis and proper medical treatment before you start adding any strength training.

I have seen my doctor, but he is really trying to hold off on operating again, because there's a pretty big chance at this point that any more procedures, big or small, will result in having to have it replaced, and he doesn't want to do a double knee replacement on a 19 year old.

i hear ya, but if you add strength training before taking care of your issues, you could cause even more damage. You should talk with your doctor again and see what you should and should not do before proceeding.

beyondjupiter

Can you sit down in a chair without a problem? I have knee issues too, though not as bad as yours. I generally wear a knee brace if I am going to do things that put stress on my knees. But only then! Because your legs need to build up muscle around your knees to support them and wearing a brace all of the time can inhibit that.

If you can sit and get up without much issue to squats over a chair. I started off doing squats sitting over a chair, like I was going to sit down but hovered over the chair. Then I went to assisted squats holding onto the top of the chair. Now I do them without a chair but I only go down a little bit. I don't know if I will ever be able to do a "full squat" but I don't mind that. Trust me, the little ones still help and I will feel sore the next day.

With that being said walking will tone your bum too. So will an elliptical which is "no impact" but I find it to be hard on my knee sometimes too.

You don't need squats. If they cause you too much pain even with the above method, just cut them out all together. And for the love of god DO NOT try lunges. With your knee issues I would stay away from them all together. Especially since I hear it is very easy to get the form wrong on these and injure yourself.

beyondjupiter

These have been really helpful for me too:

http://www.active.com/fitness/Articles/The_Best_and_Worst_Exercises_for_Bad_Knees

http://www.ehow.com/list_6875573_exercises-patella-knee.html

http://www.livestrong.com/article/373195-patellar-subluxation-exercises/

bleedingdesu

Single leg bridges could help. Also, are you near a pool or have access to one? You could squat in the pool without much added pressure.

I was thinking about trying that, as well as just going waist deep and water walking. my thoughts were that the resistance would give me more to work with.

bleedingdesu

These have been really helpful for me too:

http://www.active.com/fitness/Articles/The_Best_and_Worst_Exercises_for_Bad_Knees

http://www.ehow.com/list_6875573_exercises-patella-knee.html

http://www.livestrong.com/article/373195-patellar-subluxation-exercises/

thank you, theses are lovely!

JNick77

Dumb question first: Why are squats not an option? They work, so I feel obligated to ask why you can't/won't do them.

I've had four surgeries on my knees and I have torn cartilage in one.

If you still have torn cartilage in one I would think just about exercise is out of the question. The issue is getting it repaired, going through PT, and then start exercising again. Squats themselves aren't really much more stressful on your knees then anything else when you're using good form.

affacat

i don't do squats or lunges due to my knees. i have built up great lower body muscles just through walking, then jogging, and now running. it also helped my core.

biking also is great for leg muscles if you put the time in.

muttmom105

I can't do much of anything - even walking hurts right now, so I'm in PT. It's so frustrating because I actually enjoy walking, and now can't. Weight I lost is creeping back on, and I know if I can lose weight there will be less pressure on the knees, so I feel like I'm in a catch-22. So annoyed with myself.