Leg exercise ideas? No squats or lunges allowed

Can you do dumbbell step ups?

You can also try box squats. They are safe on the knees and keep the stress off of them when on the box. Leg presses are another safe alternative. Just with both of these exercises make sure your knees are over your ankles. Meaning keep them behind your toes and straight above the ankle as much as you can. It will help to keep less stress in the knees. Also you want to focus on strengthening your hamstring to strengthen your knees.

Box squats:
http://stronglifts.com/build-explosive-strength-how-to-perform-box-squats/

To the OP, was this recommendation to never do squats or lunges ever from the surgeon or your general family doctor? Trimming a torn meniscus and cleaning up loose chips in a knee is a pretty routine sports surgery now. Lots of professional and amateur athletes have had that done and get back to competing, which includes significant strength training. If that is from your family doctor, get a second opinion (not an internet opinion). If it's from the surgeon, have them hook you up with a good physical therapist if you are not already working with one.

Back step lunges do not have the impact of a standard lunge since the leg you're training never comes off the ground and might end up being acceptable, it's worth asking the doctor or physical therapist.

I had the same procedure a few years back. My Vastus muscles disappeared. I was told the opposite from my surgeon. He said I needed to do squats but only after physiotherapy. All body weight for starters. He even told me to do leg extensions which I later found out was a bad exercise. The leg extension bothered me and I relaxed on all leg strengthening. Big mistake. A few years later I paid the price again for not rehabbing. I bet if the squats are done correctly it would help. Maybe I am wrong but my guess is most surgeons don't know that much about strength training technique.

I had arthoscopic surgery to remove a torn meniscus and also "clean up" some loose cartilidge due to arthritis. My doctor told me not to do squats, lunges, or leg extensions-ever again! :ohwell:
Any ideas on other things to do to strengthen my legs and knees? I can do biking/spinning which will help but other ideas are welcome.
Thanks so much!

Take your guide from the experts - football (soccer) rehabilitation after the very common knee ops (Cruciate in particular) often start in the pool. Whilst you can't do squats/lunges, I bet you can do them in the pool where weight is more venly distributed. Worth a thought anyway

i have to agree.. the pool is the way to go for working out any injury that may require resistance! I run on my elliptical, which is AMAZING for no kne pain! Good luck to you!

In Pilates we had to do leg circles-
lay on your back, with one knee bent and that foot on the ground. Raise the other leg and point your toe at the ceiling. Start with small circles (draw them with your toe). Do 10. Then 10 medium circles, and if you can then do 10 huge circles.
Switch directions and repeat.
Then switch legs!

It burns.

Another thing you can do is this (I don't know the name):

get on your hands and knees (like a dog not a plank but still keep your core tight)

with one leg, kick backwards and towards the ceiling. switch legs. you should feel it in your glutes