Toning up legs when you have bad knees?

miss_moose
miss_moose Posts: 1 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hey so I lift about 5 times a week, and I am in pretty good shape. However, I really want to tone up my legs but I have tendonitis in both knees. Some days I can do light squats, other days it just hurts my knees too bad. I feel like my knees hurt before my legs get any kind of workout. Does anyone have some good tips for low impact leg strengthening? I was thinking wall sits, and I already do a ton of calf lifts, but I need some suggestions! Thanks! :)

Replies

  • phjorg1
    phjorg1 Posts: 642 Member
    have you tried deep squats?
  • rbeckner711
    rbeckner711 Posts: 129 Member
    How about an elliptical or a recumbent stationary bike? Both are low impact on the knees. or swimming?
  • pyrowill
    pyrowill Posts: 1,163 Member
    Cycling.
  • Tazzymk
    Tazzymk Posts: 45 Member
    I have a bad knee but found the way I was doing my squats/lunges were not helping. I looked on youtube to get the correct form but basically really think about using your butt more :laugh:
  • vstraughan
    vstraughan Posts: 163 Member
    Bad knees over here too and avoid all impact work.

    I love starting Friday with people in agreement! :bigsmile:

    As rbeckner said elliptical & cycling... I'm a big fan of the elliptical trainer (75 mins 3 x a week) and cycling (spinning class 3 x week)

    As phjorg, Get them strapped up and get some deep squats in. There really is a difference between deep and shallow when it comes to knees. If you're at the gym, I'd also recommend doing them on Power Plates as you really don't have to do as many.

    A lot of people question Power Plates ... but show me 1 person who does a proper workout on Power Plates and doesn't really feel it the next day and I'll show you a person who hasn't done it properly!
  • triheart
    triheart Posts: 22 Member
    I have tendonitis in both knees as well to the point where I can't take stairs up without sort of walking sideways (actually, I avoid them as much as possible!). My doctor told me to do strength exercises involving my legs to help. So, I focus on the leg machine circuits at the gym (I feel like I am particularly productive with the leg press machine). I just fell better controlled with the machines than with free exercises like squats in preventing any damage. Plus, that way, you can control the weight amounts, making it as low impact as you need it to be.
  • casy84
    casy84 Posts: 290 Member
    How about an elliptical or a recumbent stationary bike? Both are low impact on the knees. or swimming?

    I also have weak knees and the elliptical still hurts them. They did get more resistant within one month, so maybe give it more time.
  • onwarddownward
    onwarddownward Posts: 1,683 Member
    Swim. Don't squat. Swimming is wonderful for rebuilding flexibility and joint health. Avoid weight bearing exercises.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    Straight leg lifts are often the first rehab exercise - pull your toes up, lift leg and hold. Add weight if you can.
    Quad strength is crucial for my knee health, stability and pain reduction.

    Knee injuries are so varied you just have to try everything and find what hurts/doesn't hurt you.

    I can't do squats (the tearing sounds tend to upset other gym users!) or run any great distance but I can do:
    Strength - leg press, leg extension, leg curls.
    Cardio - cycling, rowing, elliptical. (Cycling with proper cycling shoes is by far the best for me.)

    Even swimming - I can do crawl kick but not breast stroke kick.

    Good luck!!
  • onwarddownward
    onwarddownward Posts: 1,683 Member
    Straight leg lifts are often the first rehab exercise - pull your toes up, lift leg and hold. Add weight if you can.
    Quad strength is crucial for my knee health, stability and pain reduction.

    Knee injuries are so varied you just have to try everything and find what hurts/doesn't hurt you.

    I can't do squats (the tearing sounds tend to upset other gym users!) or run any great distance but I can do:
    Strength - leg press, leg extension, leg curls.
    Cardio - cycling, rowing, elliptical. (Cycling with proper cycling shoes is by far the best for me.)

    Even swimming - I can do crawl kick but not breast stroke kick.

    Good luck!!

    The breast stroke kick and butterfly are hard on knees, but water exercising is wonderful for joint issues, especially with noodles for buoyancy or buoy belts. Just don't get into a lot of kicking.
  • gxm17
    gxm17 Posts: 374
    I had a terrible time with my knees when I first started working out and found that the static lunges in yoga really helped.

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