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Knee Strengthening Exercises(c) GoingAllTheweigh.comWeak and painful knees can be the result of injury, over-stress or simply genetics, but the aching truth is that bad knees can seriously limit your workouts. But also keep in mind if you have bad knees and you are overweight, losing weight should be your top priority. When your knees have to carry less weight it will help a lot. There is good news, though: think outside the box of normal exercise and there are still plenty of
options that don’t place as much stress on the knee joint. You may not be able to run a marathon but
you can still build a healthy body without totally ruining your knees. Yoga #1 option for knee strengthening exercisesYoga is an excellent option for achy knees. The activity has gained in popularity since the 1990’s, not simply because it can be very relaxing but because it builds strength without putting the body under duress. Even professional sports players now incorporate yoga practice into everyday fitness because of the benefits for both mind and body. Most yoga studios will offer classes that are as low-stress as possible, so call around and talk to some of the staff to find out. Explain that you are looking specifically to avoid strain on the knees – qualified yoga practitioners will be able to tell you if their studio will meet your needs. You can almost always observe a class for free and typically you will be allowed to take one free session, so make the most of this consumer advantage to identify if this is an exercise and class that you enjoy. Option #2 Pilates exercisesA practice similar to yoga is Pilates. Yoga focuses more on stretching and toning while maintaining deep breathing, but Pilates focuses on building strength. Originally developed by Joseph Pilates in a World War II concentration camp, the program uses a series of movements that employ the body’s weight as its resistance to train and strengthen muscles.Few movements require strain on the knees and the leg exercises can increase the strength of the quadriceps and hamstring muscles to better support the knee joints. The first movements of Pilates zero in on the “powerhouse” or core area to build muscle support for the spine. By having a strong midsection that can keep the upper body erect, you lessen the strain placed on the knees by poor posture. Pilates can correct and relieve many areas of stress for people with bad knees. Top Notch Fat Burning ActivityThe solution is simple: start swimming! Swimming laps is a wonderful workout for everyone but especially for people with arthritis and tender joints because the water supports the body and decreases the pressure on the frame in favor of working the muscles and cardiovascular system. Add three days of thirty-minute swim workouts to your schedule and see the fat disappear while your muscles become strong and beautiful. |
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