Working out with a knee injury...

[FTO]

Hey, guys. So the time's come that I have to start working out again despite knees being in really bad shape, and I could use a bit of advice.

Should I do weight training for shoulders, chest, arms and back, etc. even though I can't touch legs, or spend more time on the elliptical trainer? Unfortunately it's one or the other at this point.



Thanks.


EDIT: I should mention, workout program involves walking 3 miles there and back plus 30 minutes cardio 5 days a week through ice and snow (canada!).

[Boss Man]

Do some upper body stuff, until your Knees are better. Better than doing nothing.

[FTO]

I haven't got word from the doctor yet, but it's been like this for 3+ years so it could be a long time.


Thanks.

[swanso5]

what's the knee issue?

[FTO]

I think it's something about the illiotibial band catching in the kneecap when I bend knee—if not the IT band, then it's another muscle or tendon. Wasn't so bad 3 years ago, it's excruciating now. So I have to stick to low impact stuff, avoid stairs like the plague and not run or kick, which sucks when you practice martial arts.

[mjjdm1985]

If your doctor said it was ok to do a low impact exercise like the elliptical I would do a short warmup on the elliptical, then weight train your upper body, the do a moderately light workout on the elliptical again. If he did not say it was ok to do the elliptical don't do it. I have torn ACL twice and I concentrated on working out upper body each time and it helped me feel better and kept me in OK shape.

[swanso5]

do this 2/day and in a few weeks you'll wonder why no one has shown you this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThwS0-AY4DA" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[FTO]

I have done this every day, twice a day, for the past 2 months. It helps, a little bit. But it's immensely painful everytime. Bottomline is it doesn't work for very long.

Thanks, though.

[swanso5]

get something harder and let all your bodyweight down on it

sit on the tender spots until the pain dissapears and if you're simply rolling up and down quickly, you're not doing it right

[FTO]

I'm using a foam roller and a smooth PVC tube around 6 inches across, but I'll try doing it slower if I can withstand the pain long enough.


Thanks.