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New to the fitness forum, looking for some help

  • 15-07-2009 10:44pm
    #1
    journey
    Closed Accounts Posts: 111 ✭✭


    Does anyone have any good exercise suggestions for weight loss that are low impact on your knees, apart from swimming?

    I have excessive wear and tear on the undersurface of my patella, and while I love to walk and run, I'm pretty certain that this is the worst kind of exercise I should be doing. Basically my knee crunches when going up stairs, but not down, so the movement of my knees on a cross trainer or rower really irritates it. Running doesn't actually hurt my knee because I'm not bending it as much as I would be when going up stairs, but I'm pretty certain long term running is just going to cause more damage.

    I'm not a great swimmer and don't really enjoy it so would prefer to do something else. I have gym membership which was transferred to me by a friend so have access to all gym equipment.

    Any suggestions appreciated :)


Comments

  • #2
    squod
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,704 ✭✭✭squod


    You'll find alot of gyms have solutions for this like the hand bike or pilates classes.
    You can picture a hand bike I'm sure, a seat under your bottom and a set of peddal type yokes about chest high.

    Really though, go to your GP.


  • #3
    journey
    Closed Accounts Posts: 111 ✭✭journey


    Haven't seen a hand bike in my gym but will suss out pilates classes.

    I've seen a consultant about my knee and there's nothing that can be done for it. Eventually it will get so bad that I need a total knee replacement, but hopefully that won't be for a good 10 or 15 years yet. He said at the time that I shouldn't allow it to impact on my life (as in I could still go skiing, horse riding etc), but as I hadn't done any running for a few years, it wasn't even on my radar to ask him about it.

    He gave me low impact exercises to build up the strength of the muscles above and below my knee so that the muscles are taking most of the impact, rather than the knee itself.

    Maybe I should just bite the bullet and get swimming lessons. Perhaps if I could swim better I might enjoy it more.


  • #4
    squod
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,704 ✭✭✭squod


    Best bit about swimming is the sauna after, like being on holliers I think.
    Best of luck with the knee.


  • #5
    Parsley
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,144 ✭✭✭Parsley


    Try rowing maybe? Also there was an article posted up here recently about the benefits of deep squatting for knee injuries...


  • #6
    journey
    Closed Accounts Posts: 111 ✭✭journey


    Thanks for the replies.

    Unfortunately rowing and squats are a no go. It's not a muscle/tendon/ligament issue, it's excess wear and tear on the undersurface of my kneecap. Basically when I flex my knee too much that causes the knee to crunch, causes me more pain, and adds more wear and tear to the area.

    It's looking like I'm going to have to bite the bullet and sort out my swimming i think.


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