Hi All,
I got bad knees, plain and simple, plus the extra bonus of tendonitis in my left achilles tendon. They were never great to start with but after 20 years of standing for a living both knees had crumpled cartilege and I had surgery to remove all the broken up cartilege in my left knee two years ago. Big mistake. Now that knee is worse will give out in one block, lock or just be painful, clearly I am not going to do the other knee and all the physical therapy I had has been fairly useless. Here is my quandry. I want to excercise. I have been losing weight but want to now follow up to get in better shape. I can't run, treadmill, or walk away the pounds. I of cousre love to dance so keep buying excercise videos in vain, but my knees won't allow me to get down and boogie(lol). I have Wii Fit can't do most of it as it all has to do with standing. Aside from bike riding, swimming, what can you ladies recommend I do in home? Can't afford a gym right now so I need at home ideas. I'll try whatever you all recommend. Thanks
Hi ladies, thanks for all the feedback. I am definitly going to check out the excercise ball and mat pilates, I knew you'd guys have some good ideas. I am not gonna do knee replacement if I can avoid it and I wish I could pop Aleeve, I used to and it took the edge off so did Celebrexx before the recall. But I am on other meds now, that don't allow me to take either, however I do take glicusiamine(sp). Thanks again and I'll keep you all posted.
I like mat pilates. There are lots of dvds available and all you need is a mat or not, if you have a nice carpeted floor. Only a few of positions place any stress on the knees. Pilates will build core strength and flexibility.
Knee replacements. I hear everyone who has had it done say they wish they had done it years earlier. You will feel like a new person.
***edited to add:
I am totally for the natural approach on things, but, some things are way past the point of natural reconstruction. My mother suffered with bad knees for years. She took many natural supplements and vitamins religiously. When she finally gave in and got her first knee replacement, they said she had one of the worst knees they had ever seen. She never stopped exercising or taking her vitamins throughout the years she suffered, but, she finally had enough pain. She also lives on a very healthy diet. She did have about 8 weeks of therapy after her surgery, and, she really is so happy she did have the surgery now. She is having the other knee replaced in a few weeks, which works out to about 4 months after she had the first knee replaced. Good luck with your knee!
I have really bad knees, too, and I highly recommend a stationary bike, either regular or recumbent, depending on how your back is and which you find more comfortable. I love them and NO wear on the knees! An elliptical is supposed to be good for bad knees, but I find it sometimes bothers me.
I think one of the best things you can buy is a balance ball. There are tons of exercises you can do for strength training and toning. For cardio, I actually sit on it and bounce with my 3 year old on my lap for 15 - 30 minutes. It is great for abs since you can get full extension to work the full core and obliques.
It has been found that weight training burns more calories that cardio. I use things around the house to strength train. You can do push ups on your counter tops while waiting for a timer to go off. You can lift the laundry detergent bottle a few extra times... etc. Get creative. :o)
check out places like the YMCA. Find yourself an elliptical for exercise and take glucosamine. You can rebuild some of that. I sell vitamins and I have seen how vitamins, minerals and herbs can really truly help people feel better and be healthier. Do some research and stop thinking you have bad knees. I had a doctor tell me I just had a bad back. I couldn't walk or use the treadmill either. Not true anymore. I'm glad I refused to believe him.
I agree with jodi - an exercise ball is a great idea!
Here are a couple of exercises using a ball:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/92989-exercise-ball-act...
other ideas are:
1) theraband (can but a a sports store or i've seen it at Target)
http://www.livestrong.com/article/24364-exercises-using-t...
http://www.livestrong.com/theraband-exercises/
2) chair aerobics (here is a youtube video clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3jhx4F0oAc
http://www.livestrong.com/article/140336-chair-aerobics-e...
3) article “how to loose weight with 2 bad knees”: http://www.livestrong.com/article/35002-lose-weight-two-b...
Good Luck!!
I would try to hula hooping. it's a wonderful exercise. I have wii fit so it's an imaginary hula hoop and 6 mins is a killer. lol
Have you considered yoga?
How about a knee replacement....I know I'm considering it. Good Luck, I.
I have RA in both knees and have had the cartilage issues too. I take 1 Aleve before I "exercise/dance" and take 1 right after. This weather's not helping either with all the rain, but Aleve seems to do the trick.
Nanc
I had a knee injury and that knee still bothers me.
I do walk a lot. Some days are better than others.
During PT, after my injury, I rode the stationary bike, worked with the balance ball and other exercises the PT guy had to do varied. It all helped.
Good luck
Using an elyptical machine or swimming are two great exercise that won't put stress on the knees. .
I second mommyL's suggestion to get your knees replaced. when a body part is causing loss of quality of life and you can get it replaced, do it! I worked for a woman who had bad knees and did everything she possibly could (including injections of chicken comb) til she was house bound and couldnt walk more than to stand and take a step into her wheelchair. once she had her knees replaced I was out of a job as she was able to do for herself! as long as you do your exercises and go to therapy you will have no problems and will be asking "why did I wait so long?" good luck!
Yoga on DVD is great. I especically like Patricia Walden and Rodney Yee (look for the Gaiam label). Try some DVDs at the public library. If you are unsure about yoga - there is also Christian yoga classes out there - or why not dedicate your yoga practice to God?
