30 DS and Knees

I have done the Shred numerous times and do all the rest of Jillians workouts. I have a bad knee and they only time it hurt was if I was not paying attention to the workout. She gives you tips durning it to not overextend the knee and so on, listen to that and you will be fine. I did the modified workout for the first two days then did the normal way. Also I wear good running shoes when I do them and seriously do the stretching at the end I did not and hurt myself. Good Luck

I have been doing the 30 DS, and I have a bum knee. I have been modifying things a little. During the jumping jacks, I do my arms and "step-touch" side to side. During the butt kicks, I march or do more of the "step-touch". That way, it's a lot lower impact on my knees, but I still keep moving. I'm just getting started and still quite a big gal, so I still keep my heart rate revved up with my modifications. During the lunges and squats, I just do what I can. When my knee tells me it can't take any more, I continue with the arms and stand still. I want to keep up with the workout, but I have to protect myself as well. When I work out at the gym, I am making sure to do use the leg curl machine and leg press. Strengthening the muscles that hold your knee joint can really help if you have weak knees. Also, if you google it, you will find lots of places with simple exercises designed to strengthen weak knee joints.

I was interested in starting the 30DS, but I was poking around some reviews and I came across quite a lot that basically said the workouts are HORRIBLE on your knees and can very well lead to injury.


WELL, thanks to years and years of soccer, I already don't have the greatest knees.

What are all your thoughts about the validity of the 30DS causing knee problems?

Should i stay away from it?

Stay away! I have knee issues too. And JM is very mean and nasty and tells you EVERYONE can do jumping jacks, even people at 400 pounds so don't be a wuss. But NO, you have to protect your knees. Without functional knees, where are you?

I see people are telling you that they have knee issues too and have done the shred, but listen to your own knees. Mine told me NO F**ING WAY! Loud and clear. Listen to yours. You can try it on YouTube for no $ obligation. But simply put, if you can't do lots of jumping jacks, this is not for you.

Stay away! I have knee issues too. And JM is very mean and nasty and tells you EVERYONE can do jumping jacks, even people at 400 pounds so don't be a wuss. But NO, you have to protect your knees. Without functional knees, where are you?

If you have problems with jumping jacks, just do plank jacks during the jumping jacks. At least you're still moving, and working it out.

I have bad knees from 16 years of competitive dancing, but did not find the shred to be too difficult on them. Do what you can if you're committed to doing it. Try it on Youtube first, as others have said.

Also, if you're doing it on carpet, buy shoes with little traction on the bottom. It will help.

After five days, I suddenly had problems with my left knee, which has always been my bad knee. It popped out of its socket in high school. I took a day off and then wore my knee brace last night. It seems to be doing better. I suggest giving it a try, and if you feel any strain on your knees, either find a way around it or do another system. I'm going to see how it is tonight.

I have dodgy knees and am doing 30DS for the second time now, having completed it just before Christmas. I've found that if you do some additional warm up stretching beforehand (particularly the circles with hands on knees at the start of her warm up), and do the modified version on moves you find painful, it does make it easier on the knees.
Everyone's body is different, there will be things on Level 3 that you find easy and things on Level 1 you find hard, trying is the most important move of all though, good luck! x