Excercise without bending your knees?

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by BigApe

Did you see the bit that said apart from swimming?

I think you could be on to something though, there are loads of old quarrys between Newbury and Reading. Some of them have been turned into man made lakes. I would have thought that an ideal location to do that sort of thing. I think a search on google may be in order.

There is a link in my edited post to help find somewhere

Originally Posted by krhall

Fella - As hard is it is to be told to do nothing, that is exactly what I would do especially in your case as trying to do things has got you to this point. I know it is horrible to lose any fitness, but it will come back to you once you can fully use your knees. So my advice is do nothing apart from the physio work, unless they have some suggestions for extra work.

I imagine even kayaking puts a small amount of stress on the quads and subsequently the knee.

Good advice. Yes kayaking will put some strain through the knees as you will brace a bit with your feet and so there will be pressure on your quads. The reason I suggested marathon / sprint boats is they are open cockpit and so put least pressure on the knees.

However, if you are really bad, perhaps doing nowt is the best option?

Originally Posted by BigApe

Well that would give me arnie type muscles I guess. but not exactly get me fit. Do you know of any hand bikes around Newbury? Don't remember seeing one in the local gym.

The fitness 1st in basingstoke has a couple of handbikes... not sure about newbury tho sorry

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by BigApe

I mean no involvement at all.

I was going to suggest cycling as its really really low impact on knees, until I read the bit above. So I think thats out.

I have read on the cycling forum I'm on that its supposed to be a good activity for rebuilding leg strength and recovering from knee issues though.

I've always had dodgy knees since I was a kid, a workmate of mine had keyhole surgey on his knees and the got invalided out of the Navy because of it, and he finds cycling about the best exercise he can do and he cant do running or anything like that.

Have you asked your physio what they recommend you can do ?

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

Have you asked your physio what they recommend you can do ?

+ 1, these are people that know your injury well.

Hand bike is the least movement I can think of in the gym, but as mentioned you will probably tense your legs up or brace yourself, so it might still be a problem.

Originally Posted by BigApe

I'm currently on a course of physio trying to rectify the issue with my knees. The physio is very very low impact stuff. More stretching and stuff than anything else.

My knees keep dislocating and the idea is to retrain the muscles to pull the kneecaps back in line so they run back and fore as they should. When I say exercise without the involvement of my knees, I mean no involvement at all.

The Kayaking thing sounds good, but not exactly something I have to hand that I can do every night. No boat for starters.

know how your feeling sunshine - i only had it on one knee but I'm only just been given the all clear to do anything a year after it all started, is it inner or outer thigh muscles you need to retrain

stick with your physio and thats it - i was out for a year doing nothing and yup it drives you up the wall but you have to think whats at the end of it its about the only thing that keeps you going

or

nick someone's wii and wii fit and try some of the balance games on there that will help develop your core muscles.

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

Have you asked your physio what they recommend you can do ?

They have. Swimming. I don't really like swimming. I find it extremely boring, but it looks as though there is nothing left. I will ask them though.

Originally Posted by Quedos

is it inner or outer thigh muscles you need to retrain

I believe it is both. The outer muscles are the ones that are pulling my knee cap out of line. The inner muscles appear not to be strong enough to pull the knee caps back in and keep them in line.

Originally Posted by Quedos

nick someone's wii and wii fit and try some of the balance games on there that will help develop your core muscles.

Balancing is about half of my physio session. Balance on one foot for 30 seconds. The close eyes and balance for another 30 seconds. Keep doing that for a given repeated process.

All of you go give it a go. First with eyes open and then with eyes closed. You'll be surprised at the difference.