Non impact fitness regime

[Mojooo]

With my dodgy knee my knee surgeon has pretty much told me that I shouldn't do any running (jogging in the park) as it will knacker my knees.

Alternatives are
-cross trainer
-bike
-swimming

swimming looks the best alternative as it will be challenging and bets for all roudn fitness.

cross trainer is boring as is gym bike.

outside bike could be an option but don't see it as much as

my overall aim is just to do high intensity work to lose weight. running has been workign fien up til now.

any other non impact alternatives?

I didn;t ask about weights - although they are not impact sports - i am guessing having 90kg on a quat aint gonna be good for the knees one way or the other).

[WinstonWolf]

Cycle, I've got the dodgiest knee ever and since I swapped swimming for cycling my knee has improved tremendously. This is a thirty year old injury and since cycling I've developed muscle that I thought was never going to come back thanks to extensive scarring.

As long as you don't grind up hill your knees will love you as it builds muscle that improves joint stability.

The other thing is cycling is totally addictive, there's nothing to beat a long ride out in the countryside for destressing yourself and the weight falls off far quicker than when you swim.

[grumbledoak]

Swimming is the best non-impact exercise. No question.

Cycling is not great all-round exercise, and grinding is very bad for your knees. It also involves chafing and dressing like a fat wannabe.

[WinstonWolf]

I'd disagree, swimming does exercise everything but it's not necessarily as good for your knees.

My qualifications for saying this? 2" missing from my left leg from a supracondylar comminuted fracture of the distal femur. My kneecap was split in two and I've still got two missing ligaments and no cartilage. 1/4 of my quad is a fused bony mess. My knee was unstable and painful for twenty five years and used to wake me if I turned over in the night.

I used to swim a mile three times a week all that time then I re-discovered cycling. I can now cycle over 100 miles my knee is completely stable. The pain has all but gone and the improvement in strength is fantastic. I still swim a mile every week or so for general fitness but I need something that specifically improves my knee and cycling hits the spot.

If you grind up hills at 70RPM it won't do you any good, but I find if I keep the cadence around 90RPM I'm fine.

If I stop cycling for more than a week my knee starts clunking and becomes painful again.

I'd certainly give it a go, the potential benefits of cycling if you're sensible about it are huge in my experience.

[BenM77]

Have you considered a kettlebell?


Great for HIT workouts.

[ascayman]

I find cycling extremely dull but in training for a triathlon actually found that spin classes can be a good way of putting some time in on a bike and actually enjoy it, + pick the right sort of gym and the views can be pretty good too!

[Davey S2]

Rowing. Get on a Concept 2.

There are loads of variations for workouts and HIIT workouts and it exercises 85% of your body with little impact.

If you go on the Concept 2 website you can sign up to the workout of the day which is emailed to you with 3 different workouts -short, medium and long.

[272BHP]

Weights! first and foremost.

But a bit of everything is what works best.

[Mojooo]

swimming is a faff.

I have about 5 pools near me but none offer the convenience of being able to go between 8 and 10 every weekday (and no chance of weekend) - i would really have to plan my week around it.

[mcelliott]

grumbledoak said:

grinding is very bad for your knees.

Indeed you are correct, but it probably means you're pushing a gear that's way too big/your saddle is set too low and you're not getting the correct extension on your leg. Cycling is one of the best exercises for knees - your cadence should be set at 90 - 100 rpm, this will result in absolutely no problems for your knees.