Need some exercise tips

I think push ups on the wall are effective to a point - can you weight bear on that knee? If you can, "girl" push ups are good too.

You can also do various upper body weight workouts. I use circuit machines but hear that free weights (if you know what to do) are better.

Also, dips are perfect for the back of your arms...if you have something high enough there is no risk to your knees. try youtube?

I had laproscopic surgery on my left knee (the doctor said my cartiledge was a crumbly mess!). Today, I finally got brave enough to get some exercise. I walked 1 mile before the knee started to give out. Besides walking, what types of exercises can I do? I can't do squats or any kind of kneeling. I really want to get rid of these big arms........but can't do push-ups (knees might hit the floor). Could I do push-ups against the wall or something? I'm really at a loss here!

This is tough. Does your doctor have you seeing a physical therapist? I've found when recovering from injuries and such that my physical therapist was the best for giving you the exercises for your given situation.

I went through a similar situation, except i broke my leg and ankle and had three surgeries on it. I, like you, couldn't do a lot of high impact or strenuous work to start. I bought the hand pedals while i was still recovering (looks like a little bike for your hands). That helped work my arms and get my heart rate up a little. I eventually began using the pedals as a bike with my legs. Check with your doc and see if you can do the recumbant bike. I was able to do that - non impact and very good for you. I did TONS of upper body and abdominal exercises as well. I used free weights and bands. I did everything i normally would have, just while sitting!! You should be able to step up to the elliptical after the bike as it to is low impact.

Be sure to use the exercises your PT gave you. As dumb as some of them seemed, they helped me immensely!!!

Good luck and heal quick!!!!

I had laproscopic surgery on my left knee (the doctor said my cartiledge was a crumbly mess!). Today, I finally got brave enough to get some exercise. I walked 1 mile before the knee started to give out. Besides walking, what types of exercises can I do? I can't do squats or any kind of kneeling. I really want to get rid of these big arms........but can't do push-ups (knees might hit the floor). Could I do push-ups against the wall or something? I'm really at a loss here!

This is tough. Does your doctor have you seeing a physical therapist? I've found when recovering from injuries and such that my physical therapist was the best for giving you the exercises for your given situation.

I've "finished" my physical therapy, and you're right........he did give me some exercises. But, only exercises to strengthen my knee.

If you don't think you are ready to be finished seeing your physical therapist, you should talk to them about extending your session. I went to physical therapy for months after my arthroscopic knee surgery to repair my completely torn ACL and 2 tears in my medical meniscus. At the time I was also doing the exercises he gave me on my own and swimming. They are different quite different injuries, but they are still injuries to your knee and I think you're right to be a little wary of doing things that hurt your knee. A lot of my recovery included balance and biking on a stationary bike, but there is a lot more you can do.

If you can swim, I would. Swimming is a fantastic way to get back into exercise after any sort of injury. In fact, it's a great exercise for anyone any time of the year. It will definitely help you tone your arms as well as work your back, stomach & legs.

Also, your knee shouldn't prevent you from lifting weights! If you have a gym membership, use the different weight machines and free weights to work your chest, shoulders, biceps, triceps, back... etc. If you don't have a gym membership, get yourself a weight set!

Get a bike. My bike has become my best buddy and is now in my will. I have knees that have been abused and repaired over the years, and they get their revenge any time I engage in any kind of impact activity. Last January my sis asked me join her in a 100-mile bike ride scheduled for June of this year. I told her I would give it shot, but I was very doubtful (Not only are my knees shot, but I'm 58 to boot). I bought a bike and trained very hard to get in shape, expecting my knees would once again rebel. To my complete and utter amazement, I only experienced occasional, minor knee pain, and most of that was cured by tweaking various bike settings (seat and foot position, primarily). I was able to complete the 100-mile ride, and have since logged over 1000 miles of riding without significant pain. And I've lost 11 pounds to boot.

But the most surprising gift was bestowed in August when my son and I completed a 30-mile backpacking trip to King's Peak, the highest point in Utah (13,528 ft.) I had given up backpacking, an activity a dearly love, when on a trip four years ago, both knees gave out and, in an instant, I became a rather serious problem for the group I was with. We eventually made it back to civilization, but I hated the feeling of being a burden and a risk, so I decided it was time to hang up my boots. But King's Peak has been on my bucket list for a long time, and I felt like maybe all the miles logged on the bike had strengthened my knee to the point I could give it a shot. I loaded up my backpack and knocked off several short 3-5 mile solo hikes in the mountains close to my house to see how things went. No pain. Yee haw!! It was enough to reassure me and my son that I could make it, so off we went. The hike consists of a pretty mellow 14-mile approach, then the last mile to the summit is a steep, unrelenting ascent up the boulder field from hell. All the way up I'm thinking I'd made a mistake. Going up wasn't the problem--coming down that heap of rocks, I feared, was going to turn both knees into screaming masses of retributive Jello. I'm very, very happy to report that my knees held up just fine, thank you very much.

So consider getting a bike and start logging the miles. If your knee doesn't bother you, keep riding, and who knows, maybe in time your knee will allow you try other activities that may now be out of reach.

Also, if lap swimming isn't for you, I think water aerobics would be a great fit for you as well. If you have a local YMCA or pool around, I would definitely inquire. I used to be an instructor at the local YMCA and you can definitely get a lot out if you put a lot in! They also usually have a daytime session and evening session so there would be a few options to work around what sounds like a pretty busy schedule!

I would love to do some swimming or water aerobics...........but this small town doesn't have a public pool after summer. No YMCA......our local college even recently closed their pool to the public.

oh just saw this.. that sux! a friends pool? Lol

I had laproscopic surgery on my left knee (the doctor said my cartiledge was a crumbly mess!). Today, I finally got brave enough to get some exercise. I walked 1 mile before the knee started to give out. Besides walking, what types of exercises can I do? I can't do squats or any kind of kneeling. I really want to get rid of these big arms........but can't do push-ups (knees might hit the floor). Could I do push-ups against the wall or something? I'm really at a loss here!

I am still healing from a mid-summer cartilage tear in my knee. The worst thing that you can do is STOP exercising. That being said, you have at least a month before you can even THINK about doing anything even remotely strenuous.

Pool work and biking worked well for me. I did a lot of ab and arm work late summer. 3 months later I STILL wear a brace when exercising. I still get inflammation though am OFF my antinflammatories, thank goodness, as they wrecked my sleep.

Oddly enough - continuing to do squats and lunges helped me tremendously as it strengthens the knee. My orthopedist told me if ANYTHING- DO NOT STOP EXERCISING. Just do it in the smart way. I have learned to listen to my knee. WHen it strains- I stop. I still ice and elevate numerous times per day. Push it, but pull back when it tells you to stop.

So sorry. It sucks! Totally understand...

I squated down to sit on a stepstool.....and had to have help up! As for biking. I got a bike for my 40th birthday (I'm 42 now), I managed to ride it ONE mile. My legs hurt and were trembling. I don't get it. Maybe I had it in the wrong gear or something.

I did do the arm work tonight, and plan to try walking again tomorrow.