Advice Needed on Modifying Lunges

[Lynn M.]

Hi everybody:

I am having some trouble with my left knee and had to take some time off from lower body work to recuperate.

This week (and with my doctor's approval) he said I can go back to low to moderate impact cardio and lower body strength training.

I can do squats, dead legged squats, and plie squats as well as lower body floor work with no problem. However, any type rear lunge or step ups seem to aggravate the knee issue.

Does anyone out there have any suggestions on what I can substitute to do for the lunges and step ups?

Thanks so much in advance, Lynn M.

 

[Timber99]

I had a knee injury too and had to eliminate the tall box climbs. Those and rear lunges still give me some issue. I can't offer any substitutes but I can tell you that the things you are able to do should suffice to keep you in good shape.

My suggestion is to work your way up very slowly. Try and use a short box for the climbs at first. It won't be terribly challenging at first but will get your knee used to that motion and pressure. It is sort of working your way up. For the rear lunges, try to do them very shallow and then little by little work your way back to full ones. At some point, you'll need to do that anyway so if you are ready, try now.

 

[Jcrew3082]

[font color=magenta]Hi Lynn,[/font color=magenta]

I am glad you are on the road to recovery. I think if you bend less into the exercises, you may feel less stress on your knee. For example, when doing a lunge, don't allow your back knee to graze the floor; keep it a little higher. Also, have you tried doing the exercises without any added weight?

[font color=purple]Gina[/font color=purple]

 

[Lynn M.]

Hi-

Thanks so much for your replies.. Am going to follow your suggestions and see what happens. Lunges and step ups are such a love/hate relationship for me as it is.. love what they do, but hate doing them!!

Thank you again! Lynn M.