Hi, Cathe – I’ve been doing the straight leg ankle-weight leg lifts you suggested in another thread instead of the step-ups, and it has really helped my knees. What would be a good knee-friendly substitute for lunges, and an exercise that would also strengthen my hamstrings? As always, thanks for your time and your great advice.
Lunge Substitute
- Thread starter normandy
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lala1
Cathlete
Not Cathe, but have had a similar problem. I put a stability ball between my back and the wall and leaning against it, do a one legged lunge. It's a good idea not to go down to 90 degrees right away, though. Another exercise my PT gave me is to stand on a stair step facing the wall, not the steps. . .(does that make sense?) and do a one legged squat til the heel of the other leg touches the step below.
Just when I was about to give up on getting any reply! Thanks. Those are two neat moves -- but I'm not sure I'm doing them right. I usually do modified squats with ball behind me, but when you do one-legged lunge -- what position do you keep the raised leg in?ALso, with step -- do you come down onto step below with foot flat, or just touch down lightly with heel? Sorry if these are dumb questions, but I find a slight difference in position can make a big difference in the exercise! Again, thanks for your ideas.
lala1
Cathlete
I generally keep the raised bent with the heel behind. Hope that makes sense.
With the step I touch the heel down slightly.
Today I was doing MM and substituted one legged roll-outs with the ball. Those really got the glute area! Cathe doe these in the floor portion of GSLegs.
BTW: not dumb questions at all!
With the step I touch the heel down slightly.
Today I was doing MM and substituted one legged roll-outs with the ball. Those really got the glute area! Cathe doe these in the floor portion of GSLegs.
BTW: not dumb questions at all!