Bad knees...What exercises are safe?

Sam - go swimming. Puts more muscles to use, it's cardio, and no pressure on the knees.

Sorry to hear about the knee trouble - I've been there - it's no fun.

what about swimming or water aerobics til it is stronger?

Yep, swimming would be ideal. No weight bearing and the water will help support your knee joints too.

I would suggest that your best option would be to talk to a physio-therapist and if you have not had a specialist look at your knees, to have one do so. I would hesitate suggesting something not knowing exactly what the problem is. If it is a muscle imbalance you would need exercises to re-balance the muscles, if it is torn cartilage you can do exercises that will help stabilize the joint so the cartilage doesn't dislocate as often, if it is simply weakness then things that will strengthen the overall muscles of the leg could help, if it is a torn ligament physio can help, but only surgery will fix the problem. That is pretty much the case with torn cartilage as well. In short, this needs specialize professional help.

I'm totally in the same boat (popping knees and all). I agree with the others: swimming is the easiest with the least strain. If you need something not using water, I do different aerobics with some modifications. For example, if I'm supposed to do jumping jacks, I do standing alternating leg lifts with jumping jacks arms to make the exercise low impact. Anything where I'd be standing on one leg for too long I replace with walking, marching, etc. so that I lessen the strain. Also, anything requiring a deep knee bend I modify so that I'm just raising my knee and not bending it past 90 degrees.

Good luck!

Be careful with boxing! There is a lot of quick, lateral movement and bouncing that can hurt your knees.

I collect exercises on Pinterest, and here are some I've come across for knees:

http://thisiswherelifegetsgood.tumblr.com/post/22365516071

And here are some tips for lessening knee pain with a few tips for ways to strengthen your knees:

http://www.active.com/fitness/Articles/4-Tips-to-Protect-Your-Knees.htm?cmp=23-69

I have bad knees too. Have dislocated both of them. I swim a lot in the summer, do water aerobics, etc., but I also do the elliptical too because it is easier on my knees than a treadmill.

I would suggest that your best option would be to talk to a physio-therapist and if you have not had a specialist look at your knees, to have one do so. I would hesitate suggesting something not knowing exactly what the problem is. If it is a muscle imbalance you would need exercises to re-balance the muscles, if it is torn cartilage you can do exercises that will help stabilize the joint so the cartilage doesn't dislocate as often, if it is simply weakness then things that will strengthen the overall muscles of the leg could help, if it is a torn ligament physio can help, but only surgery will fix the problem. That is pretty much the case with torn cartilage as well. In short, this needs specialize professional help.

I would see a good Sports Orthopedic Dr., instead of a Physio-Therapist. Example: Over this past Winter, my left knee was "achy"...got to the point where I could walk downstairs without it collapsing. Turns out I have a small 6mm separation of cartilage, the only problem is that to fix it, the screw is 4mm. Dr. told me to not worry about it, drained the fluid, Cortisone shot, over the counter anti-inflammatory.....rest two weeks, then can resume light running, and now weights.

My point is, you have to know what it is that you have, before you can know what exercises you can comfortably do. For me, running on flat surface is good....rotating and twisting motions are bad.

Swimming is a good low impact exercise, not always practical though. Elliptical is also good low impact, Cycling can be low impact, but if you have a road bike and have clip shoes, you want to have some "float" to allow the knee joint to flex more naturally.

Anyway....go see an Ortho Dr. gimpy knees are not something to take a chance on.

swimming is good.

boxing you maybe have trouble, there is a lot of twisting and pivoting and lateral movement if your boxing properly.

You could probably get away with a cardio kickboxing or cardio boxing workout.

you should be doing squats and lunges and such to strengthen the muscles around the knee to help keep it together.

Swimming is the best. Some places even have water Zumba!!

hi there yer ive got bad knees have to have steroids injection in my knees about every 3 months and ive been cycling for about 6 to 7 weeks now and im comfortably doing between 15 and 25 miles daily and even done 34 miles the other day so cycling is good swimming also but i haven't got the confiidence to go in the pool yet so good luck to you

I would suggest that your best option would be to talk to a physio-therapist and if you have not had a specialist look at your knees, to have one do so. I would hesitate suggesting something not knowing exactly what the problem is. If it is a muscle imbalance you would need exercises to re-balance the muscles, if it is torn cartilage you can do exercises that will help stabilize the joint so the cartilage doesn't dislocate as often, if it is simply weakness then things that will strengthen the overall muscles of the leg could help, if it is a torn ligament physio can help, but only surgery will fix the problem. That is pretty much the case with torn cartilage as well. In short, this needs specialize professional help.

I agree. I've had problems with both of my knees (Don't remember what caused them, probably an inflammation of the bursae.). I went to an orthopedist and probably to PT, where they would have given me electrical stimulus therapy and recommended\ exercises. I was also prescribed a brace for my knee that fit its dimensions. It was so long ago it's hard to remember the periods when I'd be kept awake by the aching, or when it was damp.

Excellent websites!