I need exercise ideas!!!

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alf1163
alf1163 Posts: 3,143 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I have decided to let go of squats and lunges for a while, bad knees. What are some effective exercises to strengthen and tone the legs and the butt. I appreciate your help!!!! :flowerforyou:

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  • alf1163
    alf1163 Posts: 3,143 Member
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    I have decided to let go of squats and lunges for a while, bad knees. What are some effective exercises to strengthen and tone the legs and the butt. I appreciate your help!!!! :flowerforyou:
  • greekgyrl02
    greekgyrl02 Posts: 123
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    Try doing some knee ups and leg ext with bands.


    Put a band on top of your knee and your foot on a chair, hold the other side of the band down with your other foot and bring your knee to your chest , thats a buttkicker


    tie the band around something and put the other side around your ankle and lift up (your sitting on something) These are leg ext.

    Reverse lunges are good because they dont stress the knees as much...put bands around your ankles and do some side leg flings or shuttles.

    You can do jackknifes...lay on the floor back down, bend your knee and put one foot straight out, lift your hips up and down

    If your knees are bothering you I would steer clear of squats and front lunges it sounds like maybe your doing to much hip flexion, your knee shouldnt go over your toe.
    Good luck! :wink:
  • annhjk
    annhjk Posts: 794 Member
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    How about wall sits? I could do those when I was pregnant and my joints were looser. Maybe they would be easier on your knees. If they're too easy, hold on to some weight (I use a medicine ball).
  • Life_is_Good
    Life_is_Good Posts: 361 Member
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    I posted a similar request a few days ago. Some one posted the Fitness Magazine website. It really is a great resource.
    Good luck :happy:

    http://www.fitnessmagazine.com
  • annhjk
    annhjk Posts: 794 Member
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    Here's another one I thought of while I was running. It doesn't look too hard, but it's good. It's even got a little core work in with it.

    http://www.trainwithmeonline.com/exercise_13_Stability_Ball_Hamstring_Curls.html
  • alf1163
    alf1163 Posts: 3,143 Member
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    Thank you for your suggestions. I checked out fitnessmagazine.com and could not find anything that would not involve squats and lunges. I really like the trainwithmeonline.com site. I am going to do more research in that site.

    I am always very careful not to hyperextend my knees. I watch that closely. Exercise is not new to me. I have been exercising for many many years. I think my problems are due to age and overuse. I was told recently by a doctor that I have arthritis in my knees. They make a crackling, "grainy" sound, as if I have sand in there...squatting, lunges, running, makes it worse, of course. :grumble: The doctor recommended taking glucosamine. :cry: I started taking it about a week ago.

    I am going to try some of the exercises recommended.

    Thanks again!!!!!!!!!!!! :flowerforyou:
  • edyta
    edyta Posts: 258
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    Few more ideas:
    http://www.womenshealthmag.com/files/customize-your-workout/index.html
    Did you try yoga? Or pilates (which is even better because it's designed to be safe on joints).
    You can try to find a workout like that on shape.com
    http://www.shape.com/workouts/routines/73?page=1 (this one is yoga like)
    Planks look innocent but are great. There are plenty of variations, somebody mentioned it here few days ago.
    If you have a balance ball there are plenty more to try. This exercise killed me yesterday:
    http://www.shape.com/workouts/bikini_body/ and go to month 5->ball mountain climber.
  • edyta
    edyta Posts: 258
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    Few more ideas:
    http://www.womenshealthmag.com/files/customize-your-workout/index.html
    Did you try yoga? Or pilates (which is even better because it's designed to be safe on joints).
    You can try to find a workout like that on shape.com
    http://www.shape.com/workouts/routines/73?page=1 (this one is yoga like)
    Planks look innocent but are great. There are plenty of variations, somebody mentioned it here few days ago.
    If you have a balance ball there are plenty more to try. This exercise killed me yesterday:
    http://www.shape.com/workouts/bikini_body/ and go to month 5->ball mountain climber.
  • edyta
    edyta Posts: 258
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    One more thing that comes to my mind - do different kinds of cardio, not just running. You can run one day, then do elliptical or ride a bike and then go swimming.
    Your knees will do different movements each day and can hurt less that way.
    That's what I do and it works fine for me.
  • 2catowner
    2catowner Posts: 94
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    I have a bad knee too, I try to use lighter weights when my knee is bothering me, I'm going to try looking into the sights mentioned for new ideas. We're going to need our knees when we are 80, we don't want to mess them up. :tongue:

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