I've been a Cathe fan forever and loved the step ups, squats and lunges. Now I am experiencing knee pain and have arthritis and my doc has said "no more of those exercise" I run and race walk and try to piece together some floor leg routines but I have lost muscle tone and gained some weight and wish Cathe had a program for her "older audience with bad knees" Please, please, please consider this group in your next programs!
bad knees
- Thread starter kwsews
- Start date
cheryl4264
Cathlete
I think it depends on your doctor! I also have bad knees (arthritis) and also torn cartilage in one knee. My doctor says its better to move more, not less. A knee that isn't used stiffens; the muscles around it start to atrophy, and because these muscles otherwise absorb some of the shock that moves up the leg with every step, a stiff knee has to take on more of the body's weight than a supple one. In a study of men and women with knee osteoarthritis, Mayo Clinic researchers found that those with the strongest quad mscles had less knee pain and better physical function than those with the weakest. I take Glucosamine and Chrondroitin supplements (recommended by my doctor) and a high dose of Ibuprofen he prescribed every day so that I can keep working out. I still do lunges, squats, Cathe's jumps, etc. Also I try to alternate more low impact workouts like Low Max, Low Impact Circuit, and Low Impact Step on occassion. I stretch alot (see examples of good stretches from the "Strong Knees" DVD available on Collage. My doctor has not prohibited me from doing any of these exercises. If you can modify, keep exercising as much as you can, which actually will improve your osteoarthritis! At least that has been the case for me.
rubydoo326
Member
KWSEWS......I too have "bad knees". I tore the meniscus in both knees back in 2005 and ended up having surgery in 2006 on both knees (one in August and one in October) and it took me every bit of one year to get back to feeling human again.......probably due to the fact that my surgeon DID NOT order physical therapy for me after wards and said I'd be fine on my own just doing "routine" things. Well, it turns out that was a huge mistake...........so after talking to others who had the same surgery I did, but they had P.T. and recovered so much faster, I decided to stop being afraid of hurting myself so much and gave exercising a whirl.
I first started out by walking my rescued Golden Retriever 3 x per day adding more and more distance every so many days that I felt I could do more. Now, I am proud to say I am doing Cathe's Power Hour Squats and Lunges (double doses too!) AND I am also proud to say.......I have started to alternate 5 minute intervals of walking/running on the treadmill as many days per week that I can. I am amazed that at 53 I am actually able to do this pattern for an hour now on the treadmill!!!! I never thought I would see the day. (Although, I don't think I'll be running on pavement because the treadmill helps absorb the shock much better).
Cheryl has some great and logical advice..........just remember, slow and steady wins the race! Keep trying, don't give up!!!
Best wishes, "Ruby"
I first started out by walking my rescued Golden Retriever 3 x per day adding more and more distance every so many days that I felt I could do more. Now, I am proud to say I am doing Cathe's Power Hour Squats and Lunges (double doses too!) AND I am also proud to say.......I have started to alternate 5 minute intervals of walking/running on the treadmill as many days per week that I can. I am amazed that at 53 I am actually able to do this pattern for an hour now on the treadmill!!!! I never thought I would see the day. (Although, I don't think I'll be running on pavement because the treadmill helps absorb the shock much better).
Cheryl has some great and logical advice..........just remember, slow and steady wins the race! Keep trying, don't give up!!!
Best wishes, "Ruby" 
exercise-lover
Cathlete
I tore my ACL in my right knee 10 years ago. The doc sent me to PT and told me to see if I could do what I want to do without surgery. I can do pretty much everything except run, lunge (excessively), and jump (jarring). Pivots are not so good either.
I use all Cathe's workouts. I work out on cushy carpeting. For the step, I do them with out any risers and take the jump out. I increase my arm movements and go lower. Any of the hi-lo stuff, I just make it all "lo" but keep the intensity by really moving. Kickboxing is just great but I modify jumping jacks, etc.
I wear an Ace brace on my right knee. It gives me support and stabilization. I do take Ibupropen sometimes for knee pain, but only a couple times a week. I told the doc 10 years ago I didn't need the surgery! With modification, I can do what I want to do.
I agree that it's important to keep moving. I'd question running because of the impact. You'd be better off probably sticking to low impact, high intensity work. You might want to get a second opinion from another doctor. Some PT might be a good idea too. Good luck!
I use all Cathe's workouts. I work out on cushy carpeting. For the step, I do them with out any risers and take the jump out. I increase my arm movements and go lower. Any of the hi-lo stuff, I just make it all "lo" but keep the intensity by really moving. Kickboxing is just great but I modify jumping jacks, etc.
I wear an Ace brace on my right knee. It gives me support and stabilization. I do take Ibupropen sometimes for knee pain, but only a couple times a week. I told the doc 10 years ago I didn't need the surgery! With modification, I can do what I want to do.
I agree that it's important to keep moving. I'd question running because of the impact. You'd be better off probably sticking to low impact, high intensity work. You might want to get a second opinion from another doctor. Some PT might be a good idea too. Good luck!
Just wanted to thank everyone for your responses. I still am very active as I am an exercise addict. (I think that anyone who knows and does Cathe workouts has got to be hardcore!) I walk with 1 minute running intervals every day for at least 4 miles and most days 6 miles. I used follow the cardio with a Cathe video for strength. I still do but I have to just do the floor work and not the squats/lunges and fanny lifters (which I really felt did the best job of working the glutes, quads and hamstrings). I find it frustrating to have to skip from one program to another to get a good lower body workout. I was thinking that I'm probably not the only one out there with the knee issues and would love for Cathe to produce a workout of just floor work for the lower body that was knee friendly. I'm sure she'd sell tons of them. I know I'd buy one.
exercise-lover
Cathlete
Have you tried the floor work in Butts and Guts? I like to do the Fire Walkers then go to the floor work. It's a good workout.