anyone else got rubbish knees??

I did. But now after several years of lunges, squats, and a few other major lifts, I do not.

I have the same problem, and avoid squats and lunges like the plague!
So are you guys saying I should be doing these anyway, to build up strength and eventually I won't have bad knees?

I've had really bad knees for about 5 years now, and I'm only 24! I haven't been working out too long, but I started out on the eliptical for my cardio and doing lunges and squats to help my knees. I just started my running program (Couch Potato to 5K) last Monday. After the first day, I could barely get up the stairs in my house. I went and bought a knee brace afterwards, and have been running with no pain for the last week. Seems to be working for me.

Squats, lunges, leg press machine, and ELLIPTICAL machine. Builds strength without hurting. Plus, anything that is good for your quads is KEY. Weak quad muscles keep you from being able to "activate" (lift) your knee cap correctly, so biking, yoga, all of the other exercises I said earlier.

I ran in school but gave it up 15 years ago because of my knees, then I lost a ton of weight on the elliptical and decided to give it a try. A little bit of pain over the last 6 months, but I ran a 10K in under an hour last month and just signed up for my first triathlon

Feel free to add me as a friend!

I have always had pretty bad knees thanks to an awesome mixture of genetics, my idiot father, and simply being overweight. Joining the swim team in High School helped a ton back in the day. However, I haven't gone swimming in years because I am extremely self-conscious. That being said, I have found starting kinda slow with it has helped a ton. I am nowhere near ready to start running long distances, but I have noticed a huge improvement in general day to day walking.

I do! Crappy knees - run middle distances 5km, 10km races and might do a half...It is a lot easier on my knees since I started doing wights - squats works wonders - lunges still hurt a little too much...

Squats definitely made a huge difference, I can now run and lift too!

the doc told me to build the muscles around the knee but avoid impact like running but eventually i want to be able to run. to run a decent mile is a huge goal for me due to a humiliation in school i want to put to bed.

any of you run with bad knees? I don't want to steam in and dislocate something but don't just want to keep walking on the treadmill!
any good tips for strengthening them?

Nikki,

I tore my PCL about 10 years ago. I had surgery on it but it's never been the same. If your doctors says don't run then PLEASE don't run!!!

The best exercises for the knees are those that build up your quads as those are the muscles that support your knees. Biking would be an excellent, low impact option.

There are SO many great low impact exercises out there that can take place of running. My fear for you would be that you try running too soon or push yourself too hard and do more harm than good.

GOOD LUCK!

I bought an elliptical for that very reason

i do too, did all the ligaments in on both knees after falling off a wall...we wont go there have found walking helps plus zumba ( as long as im carefull) this has helped build them up to the point i tried running last year i didt like it but thats just me . loosing some weight also helped obviously ...have been doing zumba and ea sports work outs as well as walking lots to rebuild the strength as they have been giving way recently but i think thats due to be putting on weight more then anything

Squats and lunges, done incorrectly, can be very problematic for knees. My knees became very swollen from a boxercise class I took. We were led through squats and lunges, but not given instructions for doing them properly. My Chalean Extreme DVDs explain how to perform squats and lunges without damaging knees (tail bone up, back straight, weight on heels, knees over ankles, NOT over toes). The cardio workouts in that series also demonstrate low-impact alternatives to protect knees. I've come back from a fractured bone and torn tendon in my knee a year ago, and I'm preparing for a 5K in 9 days.

Yeah - same here. Had knee surgery for a torn meniscis last summer after reinjuring my knee doing my 3rd half marathon. Packed on an extra 14 pounds while I was out of commission which is part of what drove me back to MFP in October. My ortho gave a list of suggested exercises to my trainer so I could restrengthen my knee although he didn't think I should run anymore. He doesn't know I have lost 39 pounds and counting and am going to run anyway.

Exercises that have helped:
Elliptical
Treadmill to rebuild rather than street running
***Core strengthening exercises - amazing how that helps my running speed!!
IT band exercises
Abduction and adduction exercises for inner and outer thighs
Squats, lunges, step exercises with weights (sometimes hand sometimes ankle)
Leg presses
Planks (yeah, I know they are killer)
Stationary bike

Working with my trainer really helps to avoid injury but still push forward beyond what I trust my body to do so I can do what it can actually do. Fear and trust are big with vulnerable body parts, especially for us that are obese.

I did a 5K in February that was my best time ever, am now reconditining my legs and knees to road work, will do a 5k this Saturday, a 10k trail run in two weeks, and a half marathon in 10 weeks. Not bad for a grandma with bad knees!!

Totally bum knees. My theory is... why run? There are plenty of incredibly good lower impact exercises

Unless you really want to become a runner, than do as the doc said and build up the muscles around it like mad before starting...

If you wish to do cardio, do machines/exercises that are low impact on the knee. Use a bike or if your gym has a pool, swim.

The knee is the meeting point for several muscles in your body. The three you want to focus on is your quads, hamstring, and calfs. Strengthen them and your problems will be alleviated.

Some exercises: Squat (can vary it, regular, wide, narrow, sumo, single leg, etc...), lunges, deadlifts, leg press, leg extension, leg curls, seated and standing calf raises (do both as they work separate parts of calf). There are tons, just need to do some research or buy a book on exercises.

Start with body weight only and increase gradually increase weight. Use pain/discomfort in the knee as the guideline. When doing these exercises avoid locking your knee (always keep a slight bend).

Over time things will get better. Also weight loss will also take strain off the knee, as you begin to realize your goal the knee problem should lessen.

hi,
I've got really crappy knees, they click like anything as the knee caps are slightly flat. I'm only 22 as well which is pretty lame!

the doc told me to build the muscles around the knee but avoid impact like running but eventually i want to be able to run. to run a decent mile is a huge goal for me due to a humiliation in school i want to put to bed.

any of you run with bad knees? I don't want to steam in and dislocate something but don't just want to keep walking on the treadmill!
any good tips for strengthening them?

thanks MFpals

Nikki

I can't imagine why anyone would run if the doctor specifically said not to. I have a friend who has been told not to run if he plans to even be able to walk in ten years (both his knees and hips already replaced), and he switched to rowing and biking. If you're not near water, I suppose rowing is out, but biking would be less stressful for your knees.

I WAS running with bad knees, but this week(after many Xrays, etc....) my Dr recommended I stop. She said if I do want to, that I should take 2 Advil, 1 hour before and ice them afterwards.