Arthritic knee - exercise suggestions?

I am interested in the response. I, too, have been recently diagnosed with arthritis in one knee. The doctor, physical therapist, surgeon and ortho specialist have cumulatively recommended no squats (or just baby squats) without any repetitive motion (static hold), no kneeling, no jumping, no stairs...YIKES! They recommended swimming!

I'm a knee arthritis patient too. You may be able to do more than you think (ie this could be a flare-up). Can you walk at all? Otherwise swimming would be my recommendation (but no frog kicks).
Strength training can help (I can even do squats if I use the right stance, though I can't walk half a mile) if very carefully built up, but I would try to see your orthopedist/rheumatologist and see if there's a sports advice opportunity with a PT.

Good luck!

I am 45 and have play competitive sports, including running. That changed when I had kids and I spent around 10 years doing very little. About 5 years back I jumped right back into competitive sports and started immediately having knee issues. Last year I was diagnosed with degenerative arthritis, which causes some pretty significant pain as well as lots of pops, clicks, and "crunchies (as I call them). I was given the option of surgery, some injections, or lviing with the pain until I can't live with it anymore. I didn't like any of those.

Stuff I have done to help stabilize my knee focus around body weight exercises and bending exercises. Seems counter-intuitive, but you have to build the muscle around the joint. So squats, lunges, monster walks, etc. I did lots of those over the last year + and just a few months back I started back on weight machines, and even got to double my weight last month. Knee is still a bit crunchy, but not as bad. I still have painful days, but not as bad. And I still have to take Ibuprofen often, but not as much.

You can always go to a physical therapist to help with a good regiment, then work on it on your own.

Seems counter-intuitive, but you have to build the muscle around the joint.

My Rheumatologist said the same thing. The added strength helps reduce the stress on the joint.

18 months ago I could barely do a single lunge because of pain in both knees. Now I can do suspended lunges, single leg squats, etc. My pain was fairly consistent before I started resistance training. Now it's very rare other than an occasional flare up.

I swim and walk. I'm starting to do band exercises although my recent broken thumb has sidelined it.
I have a bone disease which caused a very sudden joint pain, cartilage fractures and horrible pain. I lost a lot of normal muscle and conditioning due to being in a wheelchair for 6 months, plus two major knee surgeries.
You may want to ask your doctor to refer you to physical therapy. They can help with initial strength. Being strong in upper legs is very important, especially if you're going for a total knee anytime soon.

I was cleared for swimming even while still non-weight bearing and I also swam before my stem cell surgeries. I would go to the city pool or get in my own pool while in a wheelchair or on crutches.
They are doing a great stem cell surgery for knee arthritis now. Mine was a different type because the stem cells were put in the bone.
Read about Dana Torres and her surgeries before her last Olympic trials.

Orthovisc injections.
They work and don't cause much discomfort, worth the trouble for most people.

http://www.orthovisc.com/

Try an aqua aerobics class and ask your doctor about the Synvisc injection.

Here's a progressive squat training routine: http://www.startbodyweight.com/p/squat-progression.html

The deep squats where your hips are lower than your knees will strengthen your hamstrings and glutes along with your quads (an important balance for healthy knees).