How to handle cardio with knee pain

do you have access to a pool?

you might want to see a doc just to rule out anything serious but spending some time strengthening your quads will help with the knee pain. Your quads help keep your knee 'on track' sort of so if they are weak you can develop knee pain. Good luck to you!

Are you wearing the proper and supportive shoes? You need to figure out if you are wearing a cross trainer or a running shoe....each are made for different activities and different motions. By wearing a proper shoe your pain may lessen.

Alternatively, you can try exercises that are easier on the joints...such as aquafit/swimmng, ride the recumbant bike at the gym, walking, doing push-ups/pull-ups/sit-ups, weight training, Ergometer (upside down bike where you peddle with your hands), pilates, etc.

There are options to keep moving. Don't let your pain hold you back....just find a way to get rid of the pain by strengthening that joint/muscle...

blew out my knee when I was 18, have had 3 surgeries. Elliptical is a good choice, also look into Race Walking-looks kind of goofy but burns just as many calories as running the same distance while being low impact. If a dr hasnt checked you out, that should happen. Some pain you should work through, other pain you should pay attention to and scale back--a medical professional should tell you which kind you have.

don't forget that ice on for 20 min after exercise helps. As mentioned in an earlier post, strenghten your quads, but also strengthen your hamstrings too; women tend to have more quad strenght and weaker hamstrings, leading to imbalance. Plus abductors and adductors--basically build up muscle strength in all 4 directions. I use osteo-biflex daily and find that it helps me.

the more muscle you build up, the more calories you body burns every day because muscle requires more energy than fat. As you lose weight, the stress on your knees decreases--even 5-10 lbs makes a huge difference! There is hope--I am now able to do squats (carefully) with weights. Good luck!

I wish I did have access to a pool. No, it is very cold outside here and I have no indoor pool available. It is good to know the elliptical is o.k. for joints. That is probably what I use the most. Lately I am so frustrated. I am only 38 and feel like I am quite limited with the cardio due to the knee. Last night it hurt so bad it kept me from sleeping.

Dont let this make you feel old. I have had tendonitis in both of my knees since I was 19. I tore the cartilage in my right knee at 18. This made it VERY hard for me to exercise. I used to run but it aggrivated my knees. I started usuing the elliptical for my cardio exercising. When I first started my knees would give out but I would just keep doing a little more each day. I now rarely have knee pain. The elliptical helped strengthen my knees. I fell off the fitness wagon a few years ago and am back on. I am able to do some running on a tredmill but I do not push myself and if I feel the need to just run like hell.. i get on the eliptical and run away to relieve my stress. Good Luck!

I am NOT a professional, but this helped my knee. I don't know if it will help yours. Try only if you want and if it feels basically comfortable..you know your own body best.
Lie on your stomach. next, smoothly and gently bend your knee so that your heel comes toward your buttocks. Hold for 5 seconds and release your foot back down to the floor. Repeart 5-10 times per leg. You will feel some stretching in your quads..strength there will ease the pressure on your knee. If you have a hard time bringing your ankle up, you can tie a rope or scarf around your ankle, then reaching behind, simply 'reel' your heel toward your buttocks.

One more thing, make sure you x-rays on your knees to see what is going on. These days you can get minor surgery that help.